'Suspicious' taxi driver arrested with a spear, hunting knife, stolen mobile phones in his backpack - as 80,000 arrived at Arsenal's Sydney game

  • Sydney taxi driver, 33, arrested before Arsenal game with 20cm knife and spear
  • Police said 'suspicious' man was 'nervous' and 'evasive' when they stopped him 
  • Released from custody after pleading guilty to possessing knife in public place
  • He was also found with stolen goods, including mobile phones and iPad 
  • Man, who has been homeless for months, said he was 'just walking around'   

By Daniel Peters For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

A 'suspicious' taxi driver was arrested before an Arsenal exhibition match in Sydney after police found a 20cm hunting knife, spear and stolen goods in his backpack.

Police said the 33-year-old man was 'nervous', 'trembling' and 'evasive' when they stopped him outside ANZ stadium before the clash with Sydney FC on July 13.

Officers were on high alert as 80,000 football fans surged into the stadium to celebrate the English Premier League team's first visit to Australia in 40 years.

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A former taxi driver, 33, has been released from custody after pleading guilty to having a hunting knife in his backpack while walking near ANZ Stadium before a huge soccer clash

A former taxi driver, 33, has been released from custody after pleading guilty to having a hunting knife in his backpack while walking near ANZ Stadium before a huge soccer clash

Police found a huge knife and spear (both pictured) in the man's backpack and said he was acting 'nervous', 'trembling' and 'evasive' before the Arsenal v Sydney FC clash

Police found a huge knife and spear (both pictured) in the man's backpack and said he was acting 'nervous', 'trembling' and 'evasive' before the Arsenal v Sydney FC clash

'I was just walking around, wandering,' the Auburn man, who has been homeless since facing eviction from a shelter several months ago, told 7 News outside court.

'I didn't have a ticket, I didn't know there was a soccer game going on,' he added.

'I did feel it was wrong keeping a knife and walking around Sydney Olympic Park.'

Police from Bass Hill Region Enforcement Squad, who were performing duties at the precinct, stopped the man at about 6pm after spotting him acting suspiciously.

He was charged with possessing a knife in public place and having goods in custody suspected of being stolen - including several mobile phones and an iPad stick.

After a week in custody, he pleaded guilty to the charges and was released on Friday.

The judge placed him on a 12 month good behaviour bond and enforced supervision by community corrections officers, according to 7 News. 

He was charged with possessing a knife in public place and having goods in custody suspected of being stolen - including several mobile phones and an iPad stick

He was charged with possessing a knife in public place and having goods in custody suspected of being stolen - including several mobile phones and an iPad stick

Officers were on high alert as 80,000 football fans surged into the stadium to celebrate the English Premier League team's first visit to Australia in 40 years

Officers were on high alert as 80,000 football fans surged into the stadium to celebrate the English Premier League team's first visit to Australia in 40 years

Sydney

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