A MAN found carrying a kitchen knife in a public place has been spared jail.

Magistrates opted against sending Dennis Isted to prison immediately when he appeared before Warrington Magistrates’ Court.

The 31-year-old was caught in possession of the blade and hauled before the courts.

The court heard from Christopher Howard, representing the prosecution in the case, how the incident occurred on May 3 last tear.

Isted was in possession of the kitchen knife on Silver Lane in Risley ‘without good reason or lawful authority’.

Before passing sentence, magistrates remarked how offences of possessing a knife in public are so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified.

However, taking his guilty plea at the first opportunity into account, the decided they could suspend the jail term.

This came following a determination that in the defendant’s case, there is a ‘real prospect of rehabilitation’.

Isted, of Dove Close in Birchwood, was sentenced to four months in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered to complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He was also told he must pay costs to the Crown Prosecution Service of £120 and a statutory surcharge to fund victim services of £154, with an application approved to deduct the total from his benefits.