A man arrested after ‘flashing a knife’ at Weymouth train station has avoided prison, despite being convicted of a ‘second strike’ knife offence, after a court heard he was working to turn his life around.

Stephen Robert Carter was already subject to a dispersal order and had been previously arrested for having a knife when officers were called to the train station.

The 48-year-old, of Peartree Lane, Weymouth, admitted two knife possession charges, as well as possessing heroin and crack cocaine.

Prosecutor Andrew Newman told Weymouth Magistrates Court how police found Carter asleep in his wheelchair in Brunswick Terrace on June 27.

He said: “Initially they were concerned for his health, but he was asleep in his wheelchair. Officers asked Mr Carter to leave the area because he was subject to a Community Protection Notice which meant he was not allowed near Brunswick Terrace.

"He was given a dispersal notice but police again found him later in Gloucester Mews, so he was arrested and police found a knife in his possession.”

Carter was released on bail and told to attend court on July 29 but a second incident followed on July 6 at Weymouth train station.

Mr Newman added: “Police were called to a man flashing a knife at the train station.

"Police were given a description of a man in a wheelchair and he is located quickly by officers nearby on Westham Bridge, where he is arrested. He voluntarily handed over the knife.”

Mr Newman added that, because of a previous conviction for possessing a knife, these recent incidents would activate the ‘second strike’ rule.

The ‘two-strikes’ sentence means that adults convicted more than once of being in possession of a knife face a six-month prison sentence.

Patricia Sheehan, mitigating, said: “His last conviction was in 2017. He then lost his accommodation because of Covid. He has reached a point where things might pick up for him now. If he goes to prison he loses everything he is working towards.”

Magistrates gave Carter a 18-month community order instead of sending him to prison saying: “We feel it would be unjust and inhumane to send you to prison because of your current circumstances.”

He was ordered to attend an alcohol treatment programme, 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days and pay a victim surcharge of £95. The drugs and knives were ordered to be destroyed.