A Pinchbeck man has told a court a knuckleduster he was found in possession of was a piece of artwork gifted by a friend.
James Christopher Collin, 20, of Brownlow Crescent, Pinchbeck also admitted being in possession of a flick lock knife which he claimed was to carry out work on his car when he appeared before magistrates at Boston.
Prosecuting, Jim Clare said that police attended Collin’s address on a different matter on November 3 and were there when he returned to the house in his car.
He said officers searched the car and found the two offending items.
Mr Clare said Collin told them the knuckleduster had been a present from a friend which he had forgotten was in the car and the lock knife was used for repairing his car and he was unaware it was illegal.
Mitigating, Anita Toal said the knuckleduster was a gift and he had considered it a piece of art rather that something with malicious intent.
She said possession of the knife was ignorance on his part and there was no suggestion of any aggravating features.
The magistrates said possession of a bladed article was a serious matter and if he was caught again there would be a minimum sentence of six months in prison.
He was ordered to undergo a community order with 10 rehabilitation days and fined £120 and ordered to pay £180 in court costs and charges.
