Mum horrified as £2.50 SHEIN pencil cases 'ideal for teens' hid concealed knives
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A mum was shocked to find a concealed knife inside a pencil case designed for teens from the popular shopping website Shein. Ann-Marie Bennett bought two stationery sets as presents for her two children before they went back to school in January. The school office worker paid £5 for both pencil cases, which contained various pens, a pencil sharpener and a rubber. But when the parcel arrived, she was shocked to find a plastic flower that features a sliding switch to reveal a retractable hidden one-inch blade hidden inside.
Shein's website describes the blade as "sharp" and "easy to carry", claiming it is "ideal for teenagers", but also states they are safe for use by children over the age of three. Mum-of two Ann-Marie, who lives in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, immediately seized the pencil case from her eight-year-old daughter Alice's school bag, who had packed the item ready for class.
She also feared her five-year-old daughter Abbie might play with the knife and seriously injured herself. The 35-year-old mum said she felt so concerned by the risk posed to other children that she reported it to Trading Standards. and now Walsall Council's Trading Standards, who branded the item 'unacceptable' for children, confirmed they are investigating.
Ann-Marie said: "I was doing a big shop on Shein. The kids love pens and pencils and it was marketed at ages three to six. I was putting away all their stuff trying to make room and I thought what is this? The sharpener looks just like a nice little flower but has a knife in it. I was so shocked, my heart was racing. My youngest is only five and she could've really hurt herself.
