A BANNED driver found by police with a flick knife and drugs in his car was told by a district judge he would not be jailed despite having been caught three previous times with a blade.

Paul Biddle was given a suspended prison sentence despite this being his fourth conviction for carrying a bladed article in a public place when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The 25-year-old of Lowesmoor, Worcester, admitted possessing the knife in public, possessing cannabis (class B), driving while disqualified and using a car without insurance. All the offences took place in Newtown Road, Worcester, on March 2.

Amy Davies, prosecuting, said Biddle had previous convictions for carrying a bladed article in 2006, 2007 and 2009.

Paul Stanley, defending, said although Biddle was subject to a suspended sentence order these offences pre-dated that so it should not be activated.

He said: "He had a flick knife between the seats of the car. He bought the car one week prior to that. The suspended sentence was not breached and is still not breached. There has been a change in this man's life since the commission of these offences."

Biddle was given a suspended sentence in July, after these offences and went to custody a week after that for fly-tipping.

Mr Stanley said Biddle was jailed for nine weeks at Hereford Magistrates Court on July 14 for the fly-tipping offence.

He was released on August 18 but his licence until August 20 next year.

The court heard that Biddle still owed £2,740 to the courts which was being deducted from his benefits

He was disqualified from driving last July 6 for 12 months.

District judge Nana Lawrence said: "He has terrible form for possession of bladed articles."

However, he gave him credit for his early guilty pleas and added: "These offences of possession of the bladed article, possession of the class B drug and driving while disqualified are so serious only a custodial sentence is warranted but I'm not going to send you to prison today."

He issued a stand alone 12 week prison sentence which he suspended for 24 months and no separate penalty for the matter of no insurance.

Biddle, who has to completed an extended driving retest in any case, was again banned from driving until July 5 next year.

He must also pay costs of £185. The district judge ordered forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and the knife.