Toowoomba man caught with knife in Grand Central Shopping Centre during late-night

When a young man fronted court for carrying a knife at a busy shopping centre he asked police to return the ‘sentimental’ five-inch blade.

Wylie McGregor had no conviction recorded after pleading guilty to having a knife inside a shopping centre. Picture: File

A Toowoomba magistrate refused to return an 18-year-old man’s knife after he was caught carrying the blade at Grand Central Shopping Centre.

When the young man, Wylie David McGregor, was sentenced before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Thursday, January 30, he instructed a duty lawyer the knife was a gift from his father.

Magistrate Michelle Dooley said she would not return the knife to McGregor, noting it was an inappropriate gift.

Ms Dooley told McGregor there was no reason for him to be carrying a knife in public, especially in crowded public spaces such as shopping centres.

She said surely the young man was aware of issues of knife crimes occurring in that space and appreciated why knives needed to be removed from public spaces as much as possible.

Wylie McGregor fronted Toowoomba court for carrying a knife at Toowoomba’s Grand Central Shopping Center in late 2024.

The court was told police were patrolling Grand Central Shopping Centre about 4.30pm during a late-night trading day on November 28, when they detained McGregor for a search.

McGregor told the officers he had a knife in his pocket, which the court was told had a 4-5 inch blade.

He said he had the knife for work, however when asked for more details about his work the court was told he couldn’t answer the officer’s questions.

The court was told the unemployed man, who was living with his girlfriend’s parents, had no criminal history and hoped to enrol in the Australian air force.

McGregor pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in a public place and was placed on a good behaviour order for six months, with a $300 recognisance order hanging over his head.

No conviction was recorded and a forfeiture order was made for the knife.