A Chippenham man charged with carrying a blade in the town centre was given an 18-month conditional discharge by magistrates.

David Luthien Bull, 23, of Field View, had pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared before magistrates on October 2, but he was convicted at a trial in Chippenham two weeks ago, when sentencing was adjourned for reports to be prepared.

Rachael Hume, prosecuting, told the court on Tuesday that police arrested Bull at about 2.30am on October 9 last year in the Station Hill and New Road area of Chippenham.

The arrest was due to an unrelated incident but when Bull was searched police officers discovered he had a blade in his jeans pocket.

Bull was taken to the police station and when he was interviewed he accepted he had the item on him and that it was prohibited to carry it around in public places.

The blade was designed to be folded into a credit-card type device and was about two inches long.

Tim Hammick, defending, said the blade was the 21st century equivalent of a Swiss Army Knife and had belonged to Bull's flatmate.

Mr Hammick told the court the friend had handed over the blade to him that evening, and when he was fiddling about with it the blade part fell off the credit card, was retrieved and subsequently tucked into Bull's pocket.

Bull had endured a very difficult childhood, Mr Hammick said, and had a chequered early life but he did not give the impression of being a troublemaker. He worked hard and had a settled and sorted life.

Mr Hammick told the court Bull had pleaded not guilty to the charge following legal advice.

Magistrates imposed an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered Bull to pay £200 towards costs.

They also required the blade to be confiscated.