Telford driver found with lock knife in his car
A man who was found with a lock knife in his car has been handed a community order and curfew.
Police made the discovery when they pulled over Colin Wingate in Hadley, Telford, on December 1 last year, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.
Miss Samantha Powis, prosecuting, said the 30-year-old came to the attention of police because he was seen having a dispute with another man.
He was seen driving away but was followed by an officer who stopped the car.
Miss Powis said: "On stopping the car he found a lock knife in the driver's footwell of the vehicle. He said he used it for work to cut parcels." She said he was arrested and later dealt with for drink-driving.
Wingate, of High Street, Hadley, pleaded guilty on the day of his trial to being in possession of the lock knife in Britannia Way.
The court heard his plea was on the basis that he accepted it was found in the vehicle. He did not accept removing the knife from the vehicle or using it to threaten anyone.
The court was told Wingate lives with his father and cares for him. He is unemployed but had been working as a forklift truck driver when he was found with the knife.
Mrs Debra White, representing Wingate, said he had registered with an employment agency and was hoping to find work soon. Judge Jim Tindal said being in possession of a knife was a crime the court took seriously, but he accepted that the knife was not used to threaten anyone.
He handed Wingate a 12-month community order and a three-month curfew, between the hours of 8pm and 8am.
He also ordered him to pay £350 towards costs and for the lock knife to be destroyed.
