A “FLIPPANT” man was found carrying a 12-inch machete in a Petersfield churchyard just three days before being sentenced for a similar offence in London.

Tafarir Wright was sentenced last Friday at Winchester Crown Court after pleading guilty to two counts of being in possession of a knife in a public place.

The 27-year-old, of Queen Avenue, Muswell Hill, London, was also found carrying a smaller knife and a small amount of cannabis resin when stopped by officers on August 4 last year.

The defendant originally denied the knife charges but changed his plea ahead of a July 6 trial at Aldershot Magistrates Court.

Thomas Evans, prosecuting, said Wright started to walk away when officers arrived in the churchyard following a tip off, but was fully compliant after they asked him to stop.

“He said to them ‘I’ve got something in my bag’,” said Mr Evans, adding: “Underneath the wrapped foam was a 12-inch machete and a four-inch knife and a small amount of cannabis resin.”

Aleksander Lloyd, for Wright, claimed in mitigation that the knives were used for gardening work but no explanation was given for why the defendant was in Petersfield.

He added: “Along with the machete and knife there was a separate bag of other tools.

“He also was rather flippant about the cannabis as he didn’t realise there’s no such thing as an off the record comment to the police.”

The incident took place three days before Wright was given a suspended 28-day sentence by a London court for being in possession of a meat cleaver in public.

“Having knives like this, and, in particular, a machete, in public inevitably puts the public in danger and you had no good reason to have these on you at the time,” said Recorder James Townsend, who ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the knives and cannabis.

Wright was given a six-month prison sentence for both knife charges, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid community work.

He was also given a one-year conditional discharge for being in possession of cannabis and ordered to pay £100 costs within three months.