A TEENAGER caught carrying a locking knife with a 7cm blade has been fined.

Bradley Thomas John Hudghton, 19, admitted carrying a knife when he was searched by police on July 22.

Weymouth Magistrates Court heard that police were attending reports of a disturbance outside the adult education centre in Queen Street, Gillingham, when they found Hudghton who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

Prosecutor Richard Oakley said Hudghton was “not cooperative and swore at police officers.”

“He was acting in an antisocial manner, refusing to give details and shouting at his friends,” Mr Oakley said.

Hudghton was detained for a search when police found a locking knife with a 7cm blade in his pocket.

He told officers he was a gardener and used the knife for work.

Simon Lacey, mitigating, said Hudghton had no intention of using the knife for any purpose and had forgotten it was in his pocket after taking it to work three weeks earlier.

Hudghton, of Silton, near Gillingham, pleaded guilty at Weymouth Magistrates' Court to carrying a bladed article and was fined £120. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £32.

The chairman of the bench ordered for the knife to be destroyed.