Bolton: Man caught in early hours with kitchen knife

Chai Chamberlain, 36, had been out in Bolton at around 2.10am on June 5 last year when he was seen on camera.

Police officers became suspicious when they noticed he was wearing a tracksuit that appeared to be associated with a recent robbery and arrived on the scene to ask him to remove the top.

Mark Pritchard, prosecuting, said: “As he did so, a kitchen knife with a blade approximately four inches long was seen in the sleeve of the item.”

Mr Pritchard told the court that Chamberlain himself was not connected to the robbery, but that the clothing was suspected to have been recently worn by someone who was.

The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Chamberlain, who has 38 previous convictions for 58 offences, was arrested and pleaded guilty to possession of a knife in a public place when brought before the magistrate’s court.

Mr Prichard said that the 36-year-old had a “history of theft offences” and others linked to breaches of court orders.

Nick Ross, defending, argued that he deserved credit for having pleaded guilty.

He said: “Whilst this is a defendant that has a simply appalling, unenviable record, violence and carrying weapons is not normally his modus operandi.”

He added: “Unlike some more experienced and persistent offenders he has not sought to play the system.”

Mr Ross also reminded the court that the long delay in dealing with Chamberlain’s case had not been the defendant’s fault.

He said: “He makes no excuse whatsoever for the possession of that knife.

“In simplistic language, he went quietly.”

Judge Tom Gilbart accepted that Chamberlain was entitled to credit for having pleaded guilty and that the delay in sentencing him had not been his fault.

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But he reminded the court of the potentially devastating consequences that can arise from carrying knives.

He said: “Knives on the street are frightening, dangerous things.

“They cause a great deal of concern to members of the public, anyone who opens a newspaper or watches the television knows this.”

Judge Gilbart gave Chamberlain a sentence of six months in prison, suspended for 18 months and ordered him to complete a 12 month drug rehabilitation order with 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.