Alnwick man sentenced after being caught with knife

Mitchell Knox, of Cornhill Estate, pleaded guilty to possession of a knife in a public place at Berwick Magistrates’ Court.

The 26-year-old also admitted a separate charge of being drunk and disorderly in Berwick.

Magistrates heard the defendant was detained by police in connection with an unrelated matter in the Clayport Gardens area of Alnwick around 11.30am on November 6.

Prosecutor James Long told the court that the defendant was searched and a Stanley knife was found.

“Initially he said he had a reasonable excuse in that he needed it for work but it was later found out that he was not in employment at the time,” said Mr Long.

The court also heard the defendant was arrested in the Hide Hill area of Berwick on December 19 after police received reports of a man causing a disturbance and kicking doors on the street at around 3.30am.

Magistrates called for pre-sentence reports and probation officer Claire Jones said the defendant had little recollection of the first incident after drinking alcohol and taking crack cocaine. He believed the knife had been in his pocket from work he had been doing the previous day.

Ian O’Rourke, in mitigation, said: “He should not have had the knife with him. It is encouraging that he has engaged with the Northumbria Recovery Partnership.”

Magistrates sentenced him to a 12 month community order with 100 hours unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation days. He was also ordered to pay costs and a surcharge of £199.