A MAN who was caught carrying a crossbow while in a public street in Latchford has appeared in court.

Andrew Calderbank was found to be in possession of the weapon in contrary to the law, which he admitted through his guilty plea.

The 48-year-old was subsequently charged with being in possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

He appeared to be sentenced at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, January 17, where he was told he could be punished in the community.

Angela Blackmore, prosecuting, explained how the offence occurred on August 22 last year.

The defendant, ‘without lawful authority or reasonable excuse’, had with him an offensive weapon in the form of a crossbow in a public place, namely Poachers Lane.

Calderbank, of Bosdin Road East in Flixton, Trafford, was sentenced to a 12-month community order including 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He was also ordered to complete an alcohol abstinence and monitoring requirement for 90 days and pay a fine of £300, costs to the Crown Prosecution Service of £120 and a victim surcharge of £114.

In addition, magistrates approved an order for the forfeiture and destruction of the crossbow.