A THIEF who stole items from a house which had been devastated by flooding has been handed a suspended prison sentence after being caught carrying a knife.

Sebastian Sarota callously took possessions which had been stored in boxes outside the home on Rostherne Close in Sankey Bridges in January after it had been damaged by flood waters following Storm Christoph.

The 40-year-old was caught red-handed by members of the public pinching batteries, a PlayStation 4 controller, pliers, a spanner and a torch in the early hours.

He was fined £300 by Warrington Magistrates Court in February and told to pay £100 in compensation plus a victim surcharge of £34 and £85 in court costs after admitting theft.

But Sarota, of Southworth Avenue in Bewsey, was hauled back before the same court on Wednesday, July 7, charged with possession of a bladed article in a public place and possession of a class B drug.

The Polish national pleaded guilty to both counts, having been caught carrying a lock knife and amphetamine during an incident on Wash Lane in Latchford in March.

And he was given a 12-week imprisonment suspended for 18 months.

Forfeiture and destruction of the weapon and drugs was also ordered by magistrates.