Two men have avoided jail despite being found carrying a machete and knives onboard a train at Preston Railway Station.
AdvertisementCameron Bibby, 19, of Windrush Crescent, Barrow and Daniel Lewis Oliver, 19, of East View, Walton-le-Dale, both pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon.
British Transport Police stopped the two 19-year-olds in August last year after reports Cameron Bibby was carrying a blade concealed in the waistband of his jeans.
Bibby and Oliver had been travelling together but Oliver left the station when Bibby was apprehended by officers.
When Bibby was arrested a large machete was retrieved from the inside of Bibby’s jeans.
Bibby claimed he had been holding the weapon for Oliver but while in custody a large combat knife was also found in a carrier bag belonging to Bibby.
Police began a search for Oliver who was detained shortly afterwards.
A search of Oliver produced a butterfly knife which had been concealed in the waistband of his boxer shorts.
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The pair were sentenced at Preston Magistrates Court on Thursday 4 January and were sentenced to eight weeks in prison suspended for 12 months.
Investigating officer Chris Biggs said: “Despite Bibby and Oliver claiming that the machete and knives were not intended for malicious purposes, items such as these are weapons which can be dangerous and it is illegal to carry them in a public place. Carrying items like these can understandably cause alarm and panic among members of the public.
“Hopefully lessons have been learned and both Oliver and Bibby recognise the seriousness of their actions.”
Bibby also received a two week jail term suspended for 12 months for possession of cannabis to run concurrently.
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They were also ordered to carry out 250 hours of community service and each must pay £85 court costs and a £115 victim surcharge.