A Bolton teenager has been given a community order after being found with a hunting knife in public.

Police officers out on patrol were called to St George’s Road in the town centre in May last year after concerns of a man with a weapon.

And Bolton Crown Court heard they found Avarm Lever when they got there.

Hannah Forsyth, prosecuting, said: “Police were called to reports of a male carrying a large knife in the street.

“They arrived on Saint George’s Road and found the defendant with a large knife in his hand.

“He was instructed to drop the weapon, he did so and was arrested and was taken to police custody.

“The defendant was interviewed in the presence of an appropriate adult and answer no comment.”

Lever, from Blackburn Road, Bolton appeared in court to be sentenced after pleading guilty to having a knife in a public place.

The court heard the 19-year-old had no previous convictions.

Alistair Reid, defending, asked for a mental health treatment order to be imposed with “ongoing support” for Lever.

The court heard a taxi was available to transport the teenager to a new support facility from HMP Forest Bank where he had been remanded pending sentence and support would be available from the probation service.

The Honorary Recorder of Bolton Judge Martin Walsh said it was in the “best interests of the community” for him to allow Lever to receive this intervention.

He imposed a community order to last for two years with a mental health treatment requirement.

He also ordered Lever to attend at 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the hunting knife which he was found with.