Brighton Magistrates Court has cleared 81-year-old Sheikh Abid Gulzar of a knife charge after he told the court the eight-inch blade found in his van was intended for fishing. Gulzar, nicknamed 'Goldfinger' for his fondness for gold vehicles and jewelry, was stopped by police in May 2025.

While being taken into custody on an unrelated matter, an officer searching Gulzar's van for medication discovered the knife in the driver's glove compartment. Gulzar explained that the knife was part of his fishing tackle, located in the rear of the van, and was used for filleting fish and cutting weeds.

He stated he was on his way to his personal lake in East Sussex, which he has owned for many years and is stocked with fish. Gulzar also mentioned he kept the knife to treat sheep suffering from maggots on his land. He told officers the net poles, folding chairs, and other fishing equipment in the van would prove his intention.

District Judge Amanda Kelly found Gulzar not guilty of possessing a bladed article in a public place, stating she was "just about persuaded that at the time you had a good reason for having that knife in your car that day." However, she issued a warning against carrying knives with blades longer than three inches.

Gulzar is a notable figure on the south coast, known for his ownership of the piers in Hastings and Eastbourne. His acquisition of Eastbourne Pier in 2015 led to controversy when he painted some fixtures gold, drawing criticism from Historic England and the local council. He later introduced a £2 entrance fee and banned activities like dog walking and fishing.

He purchased Hastings Pier in 2018 and faced criticism for adding brightly colored fiberglass animals to the structure. Gulzar has also reportedly profited from housing migrants at one of his hotels. Financial records indicate that ten of the twelve companies he has owned have been liquidated or dissolved, often with significant debts.

In November, Gulzar is scheduled to stand trial on ten fraud charges related to the alleged provision of water to his hotels, which he and a business associate have pleaded not guilty to. His company, Golden (Lions) Eastbourne Ltd, faces a winding-up petition over an alleged unpaid debt of £1.3 million to British Gas Trading Limited, and bankruptcy notices have been filed against three of his hotels.

Recently, a fire broke out on Eastbourne Pier, causing minimal damage and contained by firefighters. The incident was deemed accidental.