A YOUNG Minehead man caught by police with a kitchen knife in the centre of the town shortly before last Christmas has escaped a prison sentence because of steps he has been taking to rehabilitate himself.

Charlie White, aged 23, of King George Road, admitted possessing the knife in Wellington Square on December 13 last year and appeared for sentencing in Taunton Magistrates Court on September 16.

District Judge Angela Brereton sentenced him to 20 weeks’ imprisonment but suspended the order for a year because of White’s strong personal mitigation and the rehabilitation efforts he was already making.

Judge Brereton also ordered White to attend 25 days of rehabilitation activities supervised by the probation service and to pay £40 toward Crown Prosecution Service costs.