A labourer who was caught carrying a knife by Maidstone street marshals at a troubled town centre park claimed he did not know having the weapon in public was a crime in this country.

Patryk Janiszewski was spotted at Brenchley Gardens with a 3in pocket knife he had bought in his native Poland.

The 24-year-old apologised to magistrates during a court appearance and said the law in Poland was different to that of England.

Kumud Singh, prosecuting at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court, said: “At 11.30am Mr Janiszewski was in an alleyway between Brenchley Gardens and Maidstone East station where he was seen by town centre street marshals holding a knife. He was holding it in his left hand and then seen putting it into his pocket. He was put in a controlled restraint and the knife was retrieved once the police were called.

“He said he didn’t realise carrying a knife in England was wrong and he is sorry and continued to say he was not a bad man.”

Speaking through an interpreter, Janiszewski, of Wallis Place, Hart Street, Maidstone, admitted one count of possessing a knife in a public place.

The Thames Water employee had moved to Maidstone just eight months ago to earn money to send back to his mother and brother in Poland.

Vicky Hart, defending Janiszewski, said: “He sees it as his duty to help his family and he has come here to try and earn as much money as possible.

“He presents as very naive. Mr Janiszewski had been unwell for a few weeks and didn’t realise he could be registered with a doctor and he has been paying privately for his own medication.

“He brought the knife over from Poland to this country and kept it on his person. He didn’t realise that was contrary to our law.”

Janiszewski was handed a £200 fine and was ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

Maidstone Borough Council has recently boarded up an exit from Brenchley Gardens in a bid to crack down on anti-social behaviour at the park.

It was done to stop criminals using Buckland Road as an escape route in the event of police raids.