A BRADFORD man has avoided jail for carrying a dagger and having amphetamine on a street.

Thomas Demeter, 26, of Chellow Grange Road in the Daisy Hill area, was given a suspended sentence of 18 weeks at Kirklees Magistrates' Court last Monday (January 10).

The 26-year-old pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and possessing a controlled drug of class b - amphetamine.

He was caught on Duncombe Road, in the Longlands area, with a dagger-type blade on July 26, 2020.

Demeter, who was 25 at the time, also had 226 milligrams of amphetamine in his possession.

The knife was seized and the drugs were forfeited and destroyed.

The 26-year-old made his first appearance for the case at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court, on May 25 last year.

He originally pleaded not guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in a public place, but entered a guilty plea for possessing a controlled drug of class b.

The case was sent for trial at Kirklees Magistrates' Court on August 31 that year, with Demeter remanded on unconditional bail until that date.

The trial was then moved six months later to January 10, where Demeter was present and sentenced.

Demeter changed his plea on the offensive weapon charge from not guilty to guilty on the day of the trial.

The 26-year-old was committed to prison for 18 weeks, suspended for 18 months, meaning providing he commits no offences during that one-and-a-half year period, he will not have to go to jail.

Demeter was also given 100 hours of community service to complete over the next 12 months and was ordered to pay £213.

This includes, a £128 surcharge to fund victim services and costs of £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Demeter will pay this off in £20 monthly instalments, beginning on February 7.

Demeter will also have to comply with any instructions of the responsible officer to attend rehabilitation activity appointments, or to participate in any activity as required by the responsible officer up to a maximum of 12 days.