A student who had a hunting knife in the boot of his car has been sentenced to community service.
Jamie Daniel Trevor Watson, of Falcon Cliff Terrace, Douglas, admitted an offence of possessing a prohibited article in a public place.
The 19-year-old also pleaded guilty to having two defective tyres on his car.
He appeared before magistrates last week.
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Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain told the court that police stopped Watson on the New Castletown Road in Douglas on November 29 at just after 4.30pm.
He was initially spoken to regarding unrelated matters but a search of the vehicle found a Rambo-style hunting knife with a fixed blade in excess of three inches in the boot.
He was subsequently arrested and further checks on the car found that two of the tyres were below the legal tread limit.
The court heard that Watson was fined £300 for being drunk and disorderly in November.
A probation report said that the teenager was a student at University College Isle of Man doing a multi-skills course and hoped to progress to a painting and decorating course.
Watson was said to have been diagnosed with Aspergers and ADHD when he was younger and had had a difficult few years after a bereavement. He told probation he had been given the knife as part of a work experience day and had taken it home but intended to take it back.
He said he had then put it in the boot of his car but had forgotten about it.
Forgotten
The report said that it was unlikely that Watson would be in court again and recommended community service as an appropriate penalty.
It was also said that Watson currently had no income but hoped to get a part-time job. Defence advocate Louise Cooil said: ’He was told by his mother to get the knife out of the house.
’There was no suggestion that it was a threat.
’It was in the boot under a large number of items and in a bag.’
Magistrates sentenced Watson to 40 hours of community service and endorsed his driving licence with three penalty points.
Prosecutor Mr Swain said he would waive costs bearing in mind Watson had no income.