This is bloody stupid! Is there anywhere else in the World that these items are illegal?
Unrestrained in their love for fluffy manacle but the law isn't
Author: by Amelia Bentley
Publication: The Gold Coast Bulletin (004,Fri 29 Jul 2005)
MATT Sellwood was having a fun night fooling around in the back of his car with his girl, but the 19-year-old had no idea a set of pink fluffy handcuffs would bring his evening to an unexpected climax. In fact, Sellwood almost ended up getting cuffed by a lot less desirable participant and quickly learned Queensland Police Service handcuffs do not have fluff, but keys. After playing with the novelty cuffs in his car with his girlfriend, he hooked them on his jeans and walked through the Broadwater car park, where police were keeping an eye on Saturday night hoons on July 9. When questioned by officers, he said the cuffs were his latest `fashion accessory' and that he bought them from a sex shop.
Sellwood was then charged with possessing a restricted item and police gave him a notice to appear in court. Yesterday at Southport Magistrates Court he pleaded guilty to the charge, telling Magistrate Ron Kilner he did not know the handcuffs were illegal. ``I bought them at Sexpo,'' he said. Mr Kilner convicted him of the offence but ordered no further punishment and told him he was free to go. Outside court, Sellwood, from Brisbane, warned others to keep their cuffs behind closed doors. ``I didn't know I couldn't have them,'' he said. ``They are pretty harmless, if someone puts them on you, you can unlock it yourself. There's no key, just a latch to undo them.'' Handcuffs could be bought in sex shops for less than $20 and came in a variety of colours, even leopard print. Sellwood said they had been a hit with his girlfriend. ``We had just been playing around with them in the car,'' he said. ``Next time I'll keep them in the bedroom.'' Gold Coast solicitor Cameron Browne said it did not matter if handcuffs were kept in public or in private, they were still illegal under the Weapons Act. ``Unfortunately it's possible a kinky game can put an undesirable kink in a person's criminal record,'' he said. ``Simply possessing the items can amount to an offence.'' He said many people ended up on handcuff charges when police raided their homes for other reasons and came across the bedroom toys.
``Over the years I've seen a number of people charged with possession of items they were unaware were illegal,'' said Mr Browne, ``even in the privacy of your own home or bedroom.
``Having fluff on the handcuffs doesn't entitle a person to a defence under the law.'' Sellwood said he thought being charged over a set of fluffy cuffs was `pathetic'. He said although the toys had been confiscated, he had bought some replacements. ``I don't care what anyone says, my girlfriend loves them,'' he said.
Prohibited items
Pocket knife
Firecrackers
Laser pointers
Slingshots
Knuckle dusters
Handcuffs
Thumb cuffs
Nunchakus
Kung fu sticks
Capsicum spray
Mace
Extendable baton
Throwing stars
Studded gloves
Bulletproof vests
Unrestrained in their love for fluffy manacle but the law isn't
Author: by Amelia Bentley
Publication: The Gold Coast Bulletin (004,Fri 29 Jul 2005)
MATT Sellwood was having a fun night fooling around in the back of his car with his girl, but the 19-year-old had no idea a set of pink fluffy handcuffs would bring his evening to an unexpected climax. In fact, Sellwood almost ended up getting cuffed by a lot less desirable participant and quickly learned Queensland Police Service handcuffs do not have fluff, but keys. After playing with the novelty cuffs in his car with his girlfriend, he hooked them on his jeans and walked through the Broadwater car park, where police were keeping an eye on Saturday night hoons on July 9. When questioned by officers, he said the cuffs were his latest `fashion accessory' and that he bought them from a sex shop.
Sellwood was then charged with possessing a restricted item and police gave him a notice to appear in court. Yesterday at Southport Magistrates Court he pleaded guilty to the charge, telling Magistrate Ron Kilner he did not know the handcuffs were illegal. ``I bought them at Sexpo,'' he said. Mr Kilner convicted him of the offence but ordered no further punishment and told him he was free to go. Outside court, Sellwood, from Brisbane, warned others to keep their cuffs behind closed doors. ``I didn't know I couldn't have them,'' he said. ``They are pretty harmless, if someone puts them on you, you can unlock it yourself. There's no key, just a latch to undo them.'' Handcuffs could be bought in sex shops for less than $20 and came in a variety of colours, even leopard print. Sellwood said they had been a hit with his girlfriend. ``We had just been playing around with them in the car,'' he said. ``Next time I'll keep them in the bedroom.'' Gold Coast solicitor Cameron Browne said it did not matter if handcuffs were kept in public or in private, they were still illegal under the Weapons Act. ``Unfortunately it's possible a kinky game can put an undesirable kink in a person's criminal record,'' he said. ``Simply possessing the items can amount to an offence.'' He said many people ended up on handcuff charges when police raided their homes for other reasons and came across the bedroom toys.
``Over the years I've seen a number of people charged with possession of items they were unaware were illegal,'' said Mr Browne, ``even in the privacy of your own home or bedroom.
``Having fluff on the handcuffs doesn't entitle a person to a defence under the law.'' Sellwood said he thought being charged over a set of fluffy cuffs was `pathetic'. He said although the toys had been confiscated, he had bought some replacements. ``I don't care what anyone says, my girlfriend loves them,'' he said.
Prohibited items
Pocket knife
Firecrackers
Laser pointers
Slingshots
Knuckle dusters
Handcuffs
Thumb cuffs
Nunchakus
Kung fu sticks
Capsicum spray
Mace
Extendable baton
Throwing stars
Studded gloves
Bulletproof vests
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