A BUCKLEY man has been spared jail after he was found in possession of four knives and knuckle duster.

Despite Magistrates telling him how the whole country were concerned with the number of knives currently being carried around on the streets, Jordan Thomas Taft, 26, of Spon Green was handed a suspended sentence due to the mitigating circumstances.

Justin Espie, prosecuting, told Mold Magistrates Court that Taft who pleaded guilty to all five charges, had been stopped by police while driving along Chester Road West in Shotton on October 26 last year. He said that following a search, a lock knife was found on him, while a kitchen knife, Stanley knife, cheese knife and a knuckle duster all located within the vehicle.

Simon Simmons, defending said his client admitted full responsibility for owning the knives and at the time of the incident, had been living out of his car. Mr Simmons went on to explain how Taft had been using the knives in the course of his employment at the time, which was as a warehouse manager and involved the opening of many packages. He said Taft admitted that keeping the knives in the car had been “stupid” while going on to say how the knuckle duster had been made by a friend of his and he thought “it looked cool” so kept it in the car.

Mr Simmons said how his client had suffered from anxiety for many years and never quite been able to deal with the tragic suicide of his father when he was just 14-years-old.

Mr Simmons said: “There was no threatening behaviour here and there are no other alarming factors.

“What has happened is something that really should be put down to naivety and ignorance rather than anything else.”

Chair of Magistrates Andy Stubbs said: “The public needs to understand that when people decide to take knives on to the streets, things can get out of hand and people need to be punished.”

Taft was given a 16 week sentence which was suspended for 12 months, as Mr Stubbs said he believed there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

He must also complete 100 hours of unpaid work and must pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £115.