An out-of-work roofer who smuggled a knife into a nightclub to cut up cocaine has been spared jail.
Danny Dockrill, of Meadow View Park, Clacton, was handed a 140-hour community punishment order at Colchester Magistrates' Court yesterday.
He had admitted possession of an offensive weapon at an earlier hearing.
The court heard the 25-year-old was found with the lock-knife in Station Road, Clacton, after he was spotted with it by security staff at Rumours nightclub.
Paul Baker, mitigating, said Dockrill had never intended to use the knife as a weapon, even in self-defence.
He said: "My client was observed cutting a line of cocaine with the knife in the toilets. Nothing happened to him in the club, but the police were informed and he was stopped later while queuing for a taxi.
"There is no suggestion of any aggressive act by him."
Magistrates also imposed a 12-month supervision order and ordered Dockrill to pay £80 costs.
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Published Tuesday, November 29, 2005
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