A MAN found with a large lock knife protruding from the boot of his car in Mold town centre has been jailed for six months.

Richard Hindley was stopped by police in King Street and claimed he was using the knife for work and placed it in his boot because there was a hole in his pocket.

But officers spotted the 30cm-long weapon dangling from the boot and arrested him. At North East Wales Magistrates’ Court Hindley, of King Street, Mold admitted possessing a bladed article. His plight deepened when magistrates were told he had a similar conviction dating back to 2009.

That meant they were able to impose a mandatory minimum term of custody on the 55-year-old unless there was evidence it would be unjust to do so.

Nick Cross, defending, pleaded that a series of unfortunate events had left Hindley suffering from high levels of stress. The defendant nearly died when he was the victim of a recent stabbing incident and was taking numerous pain killers as a result.

He also needed 20 stitches after suffering a facial wound in a car accident last November, said the solicitor.

“His house is also being repossessed and he has been living in “borderline poverty. He was under extreme stress because of all of these things at the time. “The previous offence (possession of a bladed article) was some time ago in 2009 and on both occasions it was not being used in dangerous circumstances,” said Mr Cross

But the magistrates disagreed and activated the minimum custodial term with Chairman of the bench Roland Humphreys telling Hindley: "Possession of a bladed article in a public place will not be tolerated.”

They ordered a destruction order and billed Hindley for £85 court costs and £115 victim surcharge.