Teenager jailed after taking knife to planned demo

Police found Connelly with the above folding pocketknife

A teenager who took a knife to an area where a protest was due to take place has been jailed.

Thomas Connelly, 18, pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in a public place after he was arrested in Warrington on 7 August.

Police found him with a folding pocketknife after he was "acting suspiciously" near the location of a planned protest, prosecutors said.

The 18-year-old, from Regency Square, was jailed for six months at Chester Magistrates' Court.

On his arrest, Connelly said he was aware of the protest but had forgotten to leave the knife at where he worked for a upholstery firm.

Emily Lloyd, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said his excuse "isn't a defence".

"He was in a public place with a bladed article without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.

"It was concerning that he was making his way to the protest that was planned and the knife could have been used by him or others if he dropped it."