A THIEF has been spared jail after he was caught carrying a knife in the bus station.

Liam Crane shoplifted from Debenhams in Golden Square Shopping Centre on three separate occasions, stealing hundreds of pounds worth of items in the space of two weeks, before he was found in possession of a lock knife in Warrington Bus Interchange.

But on Thursday, January 31, he was spared jail at Warrington Magistrates Court.

The 26-year-old, from Preston, first targeted the store on Sunday, May 20, last year - when he took £210 worth of goods.

Ten days later on Wednesday, May 30, he stole items from Debenhams again.

And three days afterwards, on Saturday, June 2, Crane returned to the department store for a third time and took another £50 of goods.

He was then found carrying a lock knife in the bus station.

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Crane admitted possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and three counts of theft and was handed a four-month imprisonment, suspended for a year.

The defendant was told to pay £260 in compensation and to undergo a 12-month rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 13 days.

Forfeiture and destruction of the knife was also ordered by magistrates.