A MAN who claimed to be a churchgoer avoided a jail sentence after he admitted carrying a machete and a knuckle duster in West Drayton.

John Henry Smith was arrested with the weapons after an incident broke out in Station Road, West Drayton, on February 2.

He could have faced imprisonment for the offence when he appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on Monday (14).

But magistrates sitting at the court handed down only a community order after describing his offence as an 'unfortunate incident.'

Smith, of Elm Farm Caravan Park, Chertsey, admitted two counts of possession of an offensive weapon during an appearance last week.

The court heard that he was arrested with the items after he was heard telling people he had a machete in his van.

Handing down the order, magistrates said they had taken into account a pre-sentencing report, which had showed Smith as a family man and regular churchgoer, as well as the fact that he had admitted the offence at the earliest opportunity.

Residing magistrate David Target said: "When we first received this pre-sentencing report our impression was that this was going to be very serious and would warrant a custodial sentence.

"However when we read it our opinion changed greatly and we now regard it as a highly unfortunate incident."

Smith was given a community order of 150 hours and ordered to pay £70 costs. The offending weapons will be destroyed.

A 16-year-old also arrested in possession of a machete at the same time appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on Monday last week.

The teen, also of Elm Farm Caravan Park, in Chertsey, admitted carrying the weapon on February 6 at Station Road, West Drayton.

He was referred to Woking Youth offending team, and ordered to sign up to a behaviour contract for four months as well as attend meetings.