A MALDON teenager who took a knife into college said he left the blade in his pocket after cutting up boxes with his father the night before.
He was caught with the blade when he was searched by teachers who could smell cannabis on him when he entered the premises.
Colchester Youth Court heard the defendant, who cannot be named because he is under 18, had a red locking knife in his back pocket and admitted he “had a smoke before school” which led to the search.
Paul Brown, prosecuting, said: “[The blade] was in his possession, he was on school premises, which is an aggravating factor.
“He said he uses it to cut up cardboard at home.”
The defendant, 17, admitted one charge of possessing a bladed article on further education premises.
Lucy Osborn, mitigating, said: “He got on his jogging bottoms, the knife was in his pocket and he forgot it was there.
“He now knows he’s not allowed to be carrying items like this around with him.
“He has not been arrested before or since the matter.”
The teenager told magistrates he gave the knife to teachers when he emptied his pockets and admitted to the offence straight away.
He said: “They were searching me for weed because I had a smoke before school.
“I was checking my pockets and I found it and it was in my back pocket.”
He was sentenced to a three-month youth referral order and ordered to pay a £26 victim surcharge alongside £85 in prosecution costs.
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