A MAN from Askam has been sentenced to 30 weeks in prison after being found with a knife in his possession when hiding from police in a bush.

Timothy Jason Baker, of Duke Street, was said to have been seen by paramedics at 3.45am on July 29 walking up the middle of Ireleth Road in Askam appearing intoxicated and carrying a hammer in his right hand.

Preston Crown Court was told how police found a Stanley knife in the 29-year-old’s his pocket after finding him in the bush.

Baker was charged with possession of a blade in a public place and possession of an offensive weapon, namely a claw hammer.

He pleaded guilty to possessing the knife and not guilty to possessing an offensive weapon and elected to have a trial by jury on July 30, which was accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Preston Crown Court found Baker guilty of possession of the blade in a public place on December 1 and gave him a 30-week prison sentence.

The knife and the hammer were ordered to be forfeited and destroyed by police.