A MAN has been sentenced for possession of an offensive weapon.

On Monday, Bolton Crown Court heard that Keiron Gould was found to have a 3-inch blade.

On November 5, police received a report from a member of the public that a man had been seen with a knife.

On hearing the report, Gould called the police himself to admit that he had been carrying a knife that morning.

However, Gould claimed that he had been approached by two males that morning, not long after dropping his children off at school.

He alleged one of the men threatened him with a knife in relation to a debt owed, having recently borrowed from a loan shark.

After receiving the threat, Gould said he went home to arm himself for his personal protection, in case it happened again.

The court heard that Gould had just one offence on his record from 2007.

Judge Timothy Stead remarked that this was "a very unusual case," with "a strong element of misfortune."

Gould's defence team highlighted that he has been separated from his partner and three children since the offence, staying at his mother's house instead. The defence hoped that they may be reunited after sentencing.

Gould was sentenced to 10 days of rehabilitation activity.