A POOLE man has appeared in court for having a metal baseball bat in public and damaging a wooden gate.

Owen Pettitt, 19, was sentenced at Poole Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, January 19, having previously pleaded guilty to offences of possessing the offensive weapon and criminal damage.

The offences related to an incident in Hennings Park Road, Oakdale, on January 13 last year.

Pettitt, whose address was given as Fernside Avenue, Parkstone, was handed a 12-month community order.

This included a requirement to take part in up to 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirement and 50 hours of unpaid work.

He was also told to pay £100 compensation for the victim of the criminal damage.

The bench made an order for the baseball bat to be forfeited and destroyed by police.