A RUDHEATH man found carrying an offensive weapon in his car has been sentenced.

Mathew Gleave, of Brook Lane, admitted having the double bladed butterfly knife, but said he had taken it to work to sharpen and simply forgot to take it out of his car.

Lawrence Bestow, prosecuting, told the hearing at Vale Royal Magistrates' Court on Thursday that Gleave's car was pulled over in Parkfield Road and searched because police suspected he was using drugs.

This was not the case but they did find the knife with a three inch blade in the 18-year-old's vehicle.

Chris Johnson, defending, said the knife was similar to a pen knife and was only classed as offensive because the blades lock when they open.

He added that Gleave used the blade to cut through plastic straps around packaging at his workplace.

Magistrates ordered the destruction of the knife and fined him £80. He was also ordered to pay costs of £35 and a £15 victim surcharge.