Culture Shock: A Couple from China Convicted of Selling Nunchucks and Knives for Martial Arts (3 photos)

The couple did not know that selling folding knives and nunchucks in Britain is a criminal offense, which is equivalent to possessing a bladed weapon.





A married couple from China, 29-year-old Xing Yu and 28-year-old Bilian Weng, who lived in Openshaw, located in the British county of Manchester, ended up in the dock for illegally selling weapons used in martial arts and did not know that it was banned in the United Kingdom. The funny thing about the situation is that both suspects thought that the knives and nunchucks were not weapons, but self-defense items.

Journalists write that during their usual Sunday shoe sale, a Chinese couple suddenly pulled out a martial arts kit from their pickup truck, which contained 12 folding knives, batons, and five pairs of nunchucks. When locals saw what the couple was selling, they called the police.

During the court hearing, it turned out that the couple did not know that selling such items is prohibited in the UK without the appropriate permits. Moreover, they said that they bought everything at another Sunday market, and then decided to sell it for a certain profit.



Since the couple was facing a real prison term for possession of bladed weapons, judges and prosecutors decided to carefully study the biographies of both suspects. It turned out that Yu and Wen had been living in Britain for a long time, and got married in 2019. The family made a living selling goods and delivering products, and in no way came to the attention of law enforcement regarding ties to criminals - neither local nor Chinese.

The media writes that during the trial, the couple sincerely said that they did not expect such a cultural "shock". After all, in China, such goods are sold absolutely without permits at Sunday sales, and there, items for practicing martial arts do not fall under the category of "bladed weapons".

Yu and Wen admitted they had made a "serious mistake" and asked Judge Ian Deas to take this into account when deciding on the couple, who faced up to 12 months in prison and thousands of pounds in fines. As a result, the court handed down four-month suspended sentences and a year's probation. Yu and Wen must also pay £239 for the weapons they sold, and the knives and nunchucks will be confiscated and destroyed.