A TWENTY-four-year-old who was found carrying a meat cleaver and Bowie knife in Worcester, has been found guilty of two counts of unlawfully possessing a blade.

Justin Wynn, who had been drinking alcohol, was attempting to sell perfume to passers-by in Teme Road, Tolladine, when one man saw a knife handle sticking out of his trousers.

He immediately contacted the police and PC Paul Green and PC Aled Lewis discovered two blades when they stop-searched Wynn in Avon Road, Tolladine.

Both weapons were hidden in Wynn's tracksuit bottoms - one was a kitchen meat cleaver and the other a Bowie knife with a seven-inch blade.

Wynn, of Liverpool Road, Newtown, Worcester, claimed he had just bought the items from an acquaintance, with whom he had been drinking, and was on his way home.

"The police officers went a bit over the top when they arrested me because I didn't think I was breaking the law," said Wynn, at Worcester Magistrates Court, yesterday.

"I collect knives and this one had a decorative handle so I was going to put it on my mantle piece, and the meat cleaver was for my girlfriend to help with her cooking.

"I had just bought them and was walking home."

But Philip Worrall, prosecuting, said Wynn was just "sauntering around the streets" with the weapons when he was found, on Thursday, June 19.

The arresting officers said he had been far from co-operative when they confronted him.

"When I approached Justin he smelled of alcohol and was unsteady on his feet," said PC Green.

"The blades were not in any way protected and when I arrested him he became aggressive to the point that we had to restrain him and use handcuffs.

"After deciding that we couldn't safely transport him in our police car, we called for a police van to take him to the station."

Magistrates found Wynn guilty on both counts of possessing a blade, and adjourned the case for a pre-sentence review.

He will return to Worcester Magistrates Court on Monday, December 15, for sentencing.