A MAN who attacked police while wielding a knife and hammer has had the weapons handed back to him by officers.

Stephen Taylor ended up in court convicted of five charges of assault for kicking and spitting at officers and was sentenced to community work and probation for the incident in Old Marston Road.

But six months after the court case he was told by Thames Valley Police to come and pick up the hammer and knife in a decision the county’s top policeman has admitted was a “genuine error”.

Usually courts will order weapons used in cases of violence to be destroyed and last night Mr Taylor, 52, questioned how many other times other people had such items returned. Mr Taylor, who lives in Old Marston Road, Oxford, said he was gobsmacked to receive the letter telling him to collect the items week.

He said: “What I did was wrong and I know this. I was in a bad place because I was having marriage troubles and I must have been drinking for about eight hours.

“I am not proud of what I did and I have taken my punishment and am trying to move on.

“But this does not mean police should be returning weapons to people who threaten to attack others.

“It is ridiculous. I just strolled into the station and picked them up without anyone batting an eyelid.”

Mr Taylor, a labourer, admitted five charges of assault without injury on a constable, at Oxford Magistrate’s Court in May. He was ordered to pay £250 compensation – £50 for each officer – given 12 months probation and made to do 60 hours community service.

A confiscation order should have been made for the weapons to be dumped, but, following an administration error by staff, they were instead returned.

Chief Supt Brendan O’Dowda, commander for Oxfordshire, said the officer in question had been spoken to.

He said: “Thames Valley Police does not routinely return property of this nature once it has been seized by officers, and this property should not have been returned on this occasion.

“This was a genuine error and happens very rarely.

“The officer who sanctioned the return of the property has been spoken to regarding this matter, and we will be reminding staff of the procedures in place around the return of property to those it belongs to.”

Mr Taylor added: “Where does this stop? Will those responsible for the recent stabbings on the Cowley Road be given their knives back?

“If someone uses a gun can they expect police to return it when they finish their sentence?

“It is extremely worrying and I hope police sort this out.”

Thames Valley Police’s website said the force could keep seized property until a case had been resolved and in some cases they could keep it after conviction.