A SCRAMBLER bike rider who was caught with a knife in public and drugs has been spared an immediate jail sentence.

Paul Emery was caught by officers in possession of the illegal items in the town.

The 21-year-old was later charged with possessing a blade in a public place and possession of cannabis.

He appeared before Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, May 24, where he was told that his sentence of imprisonment could be suspended.

The court heard from prosecutor Angela Blackmore how at around 4pm on Monday, April 17, Cheshire Police was conducting an Operation Scrambler operation.

Officers located two males on scrambler bikes on land near to Manchester Road, between Woolston and Rixton.

Following a stop search, the defendant was arrested on suspicion of possession of a lock knife and possession of a quantity of the class B controlled drug cannabis.

Magistrates commented that possessing a knife in public was so serious that only a custodial sentence could be.

However, taking his guilty pleas into account, they concluded that the sentence could be suspended.

This was due to Emery being deemed as a ‘low risk to the public’ who is ‘unlikely to reoffend given his realistic prospect for rehabilitation’.

The court also heard that he has no previous convictions.

Emery, of Nassau Drive in Swinton, was sentenced to 16 weeks in custody suspended for 12 months.

He was also ordered to pay costs to the Crown Prosecution Service of £120 and a surcharge to fund victim services of £154.

In addition, the court approved an order for the forfeiture and destruction of the cannabis and the lock knife seized by police.