A PORTLAND man has been jailed for more than eight weeks after possessing an article with a blade or point in public.

Jason Williams, aged 34, of Weston Road, Portland, appeared at Dorchester Crown Court after previously admitting to the offence on a basis of plea.

He stood alongside co-defendant, John Eldridge, aged 44, of Woodington Road, Sutton Coldfield, who pleaded guilty to the same offence.

The charges relate to an incident that occurred in October last year.

Timothy Bradbury, prosecuting, said vehicle driven by Williams had been spotted by a police car near Putton Lane, Chickerell.

Police officers observed the front seat passenger, later found out to be Eldridge, drop an item out of the window onto a grass verge. The officers stopped the vehicle and arrested both men.

A police dog and handler came to the scene to search for what had been thrown out of the window.

A machete-type knife was found in a canvas sheaf. Upon this discovery, both men were taken to Weymouth Police station to be interviewed. No comment was given in response to all questions asked of them.

The court heard Williams’ basis of plea was that he had been in the process of moving house and his belongings, including the machete-type knife, were in the car for that reason.

Rather than go to his new property straight away however, the court heard Williams had taken a detour to drop off a friend.

The court heard that in an explanation to a police officer, Eldridge had said he wasn’t aware of the machete-type knife being in the vehicle until he was notified by Williams that the police were behind them.

He then proceeded to panic before picking up the knife and dropping it out of the window.

The court heard by committing this offence, Williams had breached a conditional discharge received in April 2014.

Eldridge, meanwhile, had committed the offence during the duration of a 36-week custodial sentence suspended for 18 months. This order expired in December last year.

Lee Christmas, mitigating on behalf of Williams, said: “It’s clear from the prosecution’s evidence that the vehicle is full of property belonging to him. The machete is discovered and that’s when it is seen. It’s also in its sheaf. The machete was a present he was bought. It’s movie memorabilia.”

Neil Hinton, mitigating on behalf of Eldridge, said: “He was with the co-defendant. He was assisting him with the move. He didn’t know the machete was in the car until that fact was made known to him by the co-defendant driving the car.

“As soon as he touched the knife, he put himself in possession of it.”

Recorder Simon Levene said Eldridge had made the wrong decision at the time. He sentenced Eldridge to one month imprisonment suspended for 12 months. Eldridge is also required to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.

Recorder Levene said he didn’t accept Williams’ basis of plea, indicating he didn’t accept his reasons for having it in public. Williams was sentenced to two months imprisonment.