A MAN found with a knife in Heywood town centre escaped jail after his lawyer persuaded magistrates that the knife was in the bottom of a rucksack which he carried around "like a snail carrying his own home".
Clifford Dean Ronald Shuker, aged 28, of Polefield Crescent, Kirkhams, Bury, admitted being in possession of a three-and-a-half-inch bladed knife without lawful authority in Market Street, Heywood.
Magistrates heard Shuker had a previous conviction for possessing an offensive weapon and that he was in breach of a community order imposed for theft.
Defending, David Hewitt said there was no question of Shuker holding or waving the knife around. It was, he said, in the bottom of his rucksack.
The magistrates said they were thinking of a custodial sentence because of Shuker's record but scaled down the penalty to a community rehabilitation order for 12 months. Shuker was ordered to pay £34 court costs.
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