A 28-year-old father of two was sent to prison for six months for having a kitchen knife stuffed down his trousers.

Darren Young, of the Litchfields, Basildon, pleaded guilty to possessing a knife on July 9 in Craylands when he appeared in Basildon Magistrates Court.

The court was told police spotted Young with the knife down his trousers as he was walking along the Litchfields.

Jeremy Guy, defending, explained that Young had recently moved from Vange to Craylands and had become the "subject of intimidation by a group of youths".

Mr Guy went on to outline Young's past, which involved a history of drug abuse and previous convictions, but claimed he had changed and improved and now had a job.

Magistrates said Young is to serve at least half of his sentence.

Published Tuesday August 17, 2004

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