A masked man carrying a bag of weapons at an anti-racist demonstration has claimed he is just a knife enthusiast. 

When 27-year-old design student Tom Benjamin Sedbury was caught with five knives at a counter-protest in Walthamstow last Wednesday (August 7) he told officers he was on his way to swap them for a bike. 

Prosecutor Alexander Agbamu said: “The defendant stood out because he was wearing a balaclava, biker gloves, large boots and was also carrying a backpack. When officers asked to search him he refused and also refused to take off his balaclava.”  

Sedbury, of Main Avenue, Enfield, was detained and inside his bag officers found five weapons - a dagger with an eight-inch blade, two combat-style knives, a lock knife and a multi-tool with a lock blade. 

Mr Agbamu said Sedbury’s intentions were unknown. 

Sedbury pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing knives as well as obstructing a police officer. 

He told police he was wearing a balaclava because he is an introvert and did not want to be caught in the background of footage at the protest. 

As for the knives, Mr Agbamu said: “The defendant said he collects them because he had a fascination with them and has recently arranged to sell them because his fascination with knives was waning. He said he arranged to swap them for a bike.” 

At his sentencing hearing at Inner London Crown Court on Tuesday (August 13), Judge Benedict Kelleher described this explanation as “not obviously credible”. 

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Sedbury said he did not want to give evidence at the sentencing hearing but stuck by his explanation. 

Judge Kelleher adjourned the sentencing hearing for a pre-sentence report but warned Sedbury that a custodial sentence is likely. 

He was remanded in custody until he is sentenced.