Community order for Bristol father caught carrying lock knife at 2am

A father of two told police he had a knife on him because he was helping a friend move house.

Wayne Musgrove, 38 of Crow Lane, Henbury, appeared at Bristol Magistrates' Court yesterday.

He pleaded guilty, to possession of a bladed lock knife in High Street, Westbury-on-Trym on September 26.

Magistrates gave him a 12-month community order with a curfew from 7pm to 7am, seven days a week for 16 weeks.

He also had to pay £150 court costs because he initially pleaded not guilty and a trial was set to take place.

Andrea Edwards, prosecuting, said: "At 2am on September 16, officers were on patrol and stopped a green Peugeot 406. Mr Musgrove was the front seat passenger. The vehicle was searched and he pulled a lock knife with a four-inch blade out of his jacket pocket.

"He said he didn't know it was an offence to carry it and said it was to assist with building work."

The court heard Musgrove was in breach of a conditional discharge, imposed on April 24 last year for cashing a fraudulent gyro.

Judy Hampton, defending, said: "On the days up to his arrest he had been helping a friend of his move house.

"He had been moving from Henbury to Southmead and was using the knife opening boxes. There was no suggestion he was using the knife to threaten anyone."

Previously, Musgrove landed himself in court after stealing soap worth less than £1 from the toilets at Blaise Castle. For that offence, committed on January 24 last year, he was ordered to pay £200 in fines and costs.