Shop workers deny knife marketing offences

The Fantasia workers are due to stand trial in July 2025

Two Leeds shop workers have denied offences relating to the marketing of knives.

Connor Baxter and Daniel Corscadden, who were working at the Fantasia store in Leeds city centre, were charged with offences including publishing material indicating a knife was suitable for combat.

West Yorkshire Police said the shop was searched in December 2021 under a warrant granted under the Knives Act 1997.

Mr Baxter, 28, and Mr Corscadden, 29, pleaded not guilty to 14 counts each at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday and will stand trial on 7 July 2025.

The Knives Act 1997 prohibits knives and bladed items from being marketed in a way which suggests they are suitable for combat or which might encourage violent behaviour.

Officers previously said the operation formed part of efforts to tackle knife crime involving young people in Leeds.

Mr Baxter, of Leasowe Avenue in Leeds, denied eight counts of publishing material indicating a knife was suitable for combat, five counts of marketing a combat knife and one count of exposing for sale a weapon to which Section 141 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 applied.

Mr Corscadden, of Doncaster Road in Wakefield, denied the same charges.

Both have been bailed.

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