A TADLEY teenager has been given ‘one last chance’ of avoiding prison after carrying a 10-inch hunting knife in the town last year.

A judge has warned Reece Grandison, of Ambrose Road, Tadley, that carrying a blade is 'not cool' and warned there will be no second chances if he's caught with a blade again.

The teenager admitted to carrying a knife on Bishopswood Road on October 29 2020 - less than four months after being convicted of another knife possession offence.

Mark Ashley, prosecuting, told Winchester Crown Court on Thursday (February 4) how the 19-year-old was involved in “an incident” at McColl’s convenience store, in which he had been “verbally abusive to a staff member” and police were called.

Given the area’s proximity to AWE Aldermaston, the first to respond were Ministry of Defence armed police officers.

The officers saw him on his push bike and, seeing a “hunting style black knife” approximately 10-inches long on his waistband, they asked him to stand still, but he did not.

Mr Ashley said: “Incidents where police draw their firearms are rare, but on seeing a large knife the officer drew his firearm and asked Mr Grandison to stop. He didn’t do that.

“The officer chased after him and caught up with the defendant and, when he did, the knife was no longer in-situ, in his waistband.”

The court heard how a search of the area recovered the knife. Initially, Grandison denied that it was his but has since “accepted his wrongdoing”.

Mr Ashley added: “He has a previous conviction for possessing a bladed article so that is the position we find ourselves in. There are other previous convictions, but this is the only relevant one.”

In mitigation, Gaylene Coles, defending, described Grandison as ‘very young’ and ‘immature’ and acknowledged that her client had not been very cooperative with the author of the pre-sentence report.

She said: “He is very young, he is very immature and he knows that he should have been open and honest with her.

“He has expressed his remorse today but unfortunately he did not take that opportunity when talking to the author.”

Ms Coles described Grandison’s “very supportive family life”, telling the court that he lives with his mother, her partner and his two brothers, and also has a “very good relationship” with his father.

She said: “They have been frustrated with their son in terms of trying to get him through this late teenage stage.”

Ms Coles added that Mr Grandison has grown up facing difficulties with his speech and language, but that he had a “very good group of friends” until, on starting college, he “fell in with another crowd who have misled him”.

“He did bring the knife to the scene and he did it because he wanted to protect himself. He recognises that that is the wrong thing to do. He is someone who expresses a desire to get an apprenticeship, to work, to try to earn some money and some self-respect and to try to support his mum, and be happy.”

She added that the pandemic has “in a strange way helped him to see the benefits of his family”, and that has now been offered work with his uncle who is an electrician.

“This is a young man who could be helped by some employment, some training. Putting him in a custodial environment may be more detrimental,” she said.

Judge Angela Morris made clear the seriousness of the situation, saying: “The minimum sentence is six months in prison, that is how seriously the courts take people who carry knives.

“There is nothing cool about it, nothing clever about it. All it is is a danger to you and a danger to somebody else.”

However, she added: “You are still 19, you have got some growing up to do Mr Grandison, and you are very lucky to have a mum and a dad who are here today supporting you.”

Judge Morris suspended the six month custodial sentence for an 18 month period, and also issued Grandison with a Thinking Skills programme requirement and 35 days of rehabilitation activities.

This means that, unless he reoffends or fails to attend the programme over the next 18 months, he will not go to prison.

She said: “I am going to give you a chance today to prove you are as good as your word. You have got 18 months to use this opportunity to sort yourself out properly and prove to your mum and dad that you actually can be the son that they want to be proud of, not one that they are having to come to prison to visit.

“There won’t be a second chance. I don’t want to see you again, Mr Grandison. You know what will happen if I do.”