A man who was armed with a samurai sword in Nelson town centre has been hit with a curfew.
Paul Allardice was seen walking around with the large bladed weapon in Manchester Road by a member of the public who ran into the nearby police station.
The defendant (24), of Beaufort Street, Nelson, was seen near the bus station car park before running off from police on June 3rd.
The sword was later found dumped in a nearby bin.
The defendant pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in a public place at Pennine Magistrates’ Court.
The court was told that the defendant had been going through a bad time, had lost his job and had fallen out with his girlfriend.
The defendant, who now works as a machine operative in a warehouse, had not brandished the weapon or threatened anyone during the incident, the court heard.
He was sentenced to a four-month curfew running from 4pm to 4am on Saturday and Sunday and he was hit with a £60 victim surcharge.
Magistrates ordered the destruction of the samurai sword.