A teenager who carried a knife in Harrogate because he “thought it looked cool” has been sentenced.

Ben Rhodes pleaded guilty at Harrogate Magistrates Court on August 28 to one offence of possessing a knife blade or sharp pointed article in a public place. 

The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report until Friday (October 10), when Rhodes returned to the court for sentencing.

During Rhodes’ first hearing, prosecutor Alison Whiteley told the court police were called to the area following concerns from a member of the public, who saw 19-year-old Rhodes carrying a knife whilst he was with a female.

Officers found Rhodes with a knife in a “locked position” – meaning the blade was out – on the evening of August 7.

Rhodes told police he was drunk at the time and “blacked out” after falling over, but woke up to find two young men checking on him.

Ms Whiteley said the men “encouraged” the female to move away from the defendant, who then told the men to "f*** ***" and took the knife out to protect himself.

He also told police he carried the knife everywhere after finding it in his father’s shed some months before.

Rhodes said he thought it “looked cool” but later described his actions as “pure stupidity”.

During the first hearing, Rhodes’ defence, Mr Crocker, told the court the defendant was “certain some of what the police said is incorrect”.

Police said Rhodes admitted pulling the knife out in full.

However, Mr Crocker said at the time his client “opened his bag so the men could see the knife”.

According to court documents, Rhodes, of Front Street in Sowerby, was handed a 12-month community order on Friday.

He must complete up to 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 80 hours of unpaid work, and a deprivation order was made in relation to the knife. 

Rhodes was also ordered to pay a total of £199 to the court.