Gosport wrestler finds knife hidden in Rowner alleyway - but police won't take it for analysis

Chris Manns, known as Fearless Flatliner, was approached by two schoolchildren on January 20 who said there was a knife hidden in the alleyway behind Helm Close, Rowner.

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The 42-year-old collected the 6in blade and called police – but they told him that because it wasn’t linked to any particular crime, he should bin it instead of them coming to collect it.

Mr Manns, who has been a wrestler for 21 years, said he is concerned about a lack of police resources.

‘They told me that they had checked their database and hadn’t linked the blade to other crimes,’ he said.

‘Because of that, I was asked to wrap it in cloth and chuck it in the bin.

‘I asked why and they simply said they didn’t have the resources to come and collect it – I was gobsmacked.’

When he’s not in the ring, Mr Manns works as a security guard in Gosport town centre.

His dad, Pete Manns, was a superintendent in the police force.

‘I’ve always been pro-police and I work closely with them when I’m doing the doors in town,’ he said.

‘But I was shocked when they said they weren’t interested in collecting it.

‘Even if there isn’t a crime that’s been linked, there could well be fingerprints on it or it could be linked to a crime that simply hasn’t been reported yet.’

The wrestler was walking with his stepson when he came across the blade, and said the incident has had a profound effect on the youngster, who now refuses to go near the alleyway.

A spokesman from Hampshire Constabulary said: ‘Each call we receive is dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

‘The information provided to the call-taker was assessed and a decision was made, based on the information available to police, that on this occasion the item was suitable for disposing.’

Mr Manns and his girlfriend will be keeping hold of the knife for now, putting it away in a storage box.