A chef narrowly escaped prison after he took a 4in knife to a nightclub, a court heard.

Andreas Eracleous, who works at a fish and chip shop in Rosemary Road, Clacton, took the knife with him on a night out clubbing at Rumours in the town.

However, he handed in the knife, which had a blade 1in longer than legally allowed, to door staff, who have a policy of collecting surrendered items before searching clubbers.

Sharon Moore, prosecuting, said staff immediately called police, who arrested him.

She said Eracleous told officers he uses the knife as a chef at work and takes it when he goes home and on many occasions on a night out.

Eracleous, 49, of Wellesley Road, Clacton, admitted being in possession of a folding pocket knife in a public place when he appeared before Colchester magistrates yesterday.

Miss Moore told the court: "He said that he did not hold it for his own protection and did not know it was illegal."

Paul Tawn, mitigating, said although it was serious offence, it had been a honest mistake.

The chairman of the bench said it was "a very serious incident", which would normally only result in a prison sentence.

However, they believed him that he never intended to use it as a weapon.

Eracleous was given a 12-month unconditional discharge and ordered to pay £43 costs

Published Friday January 9, 2004

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