A teenager caught unlawfully carrying a wooden table leg was today warned by a judge it could be as effective a weapon as a baseball bat.

Dillon Thompson did not realise he was committing a serious offence when a vehicle he was travelling in was stopped by the police on the Aire Valley Road, Keighley, on the afternoon of October 19 last year, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Thompson, 19, of Outlet Grange, Shipley, pleaded guilty at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court to having an offensive weapon in a public place.

His barrister, Abigail Langford, said he had no previous convictions.

His girlfriend and family members were supporting him.

She urged the court to impose a community sentence as Thompson was at a low risk of reoffending.

Judge Jonathan Gibson said that unlike the male caught with him who had a machete Thompson did not have a bladed weapon.

But he told him: “I want you to realise that carrying offensive weapons is seriously wrong.”

The wooden table leg “could be as effective a weapon as a baseball bat.”

Thompson did not threaten anyone with it or put anyone in fear.

“I think you’ve learned a very important lesson,” Judge Gibson said.

He sentenced Thompson to a 12 month community order with up to 20 rehabilitation activity days with the probation service and 36 hours at an attendance centre.

The table leg was ordered to be forfeited and destroyed.