A MAN found by police armed with a knife walking around a children’s play park has avoided jail time.

Jayden Gibson, 23, darted from police officers as they approached him in a playground just off Admirals Road in Birchwood on June 7.

Warrington Magistrates' Court heard from prosecutor Elizabeth Brown last Tuesday that officers were on duty at the time of the incident when they spotted Gibson.

“They approached the man in plain clothes,” Ms Brown stated. “As they did, the PC witnessed a black knife fall from his coat pocket as he ran away.”

The blade he was carrying was described as a ‘kitchen knife’.

“The defendant was in a child’s play park at the time, so people were likely to be present,” she added.

Defending, Mr Thomlinson said his client pleaded guilty to the offence of possession of a bladed article at the first hearing.

“The knife had not been used at any point,” he told the courts.

Gibson, of Ardenfield Drive, Manchester, was handed a jail sentence of six months, suspended for 18 months.

Following the sentence, chair of the bench, Carol Wesley addressed the defendant saying: “You have an opportunity on this.

“If you complete this order you won’t have to go to prison.”