A NOSY neighbour who went to ask what police were doing had a martial arts throwing knife protruding from a "manbag" across his chest.

Blackburn magistrates heard Tom Garner was also found to have a quantity of cannabis on him when he approached officers attending a neighbour's house at lunchtime on Tuesday.

Garner, 19, of Dickinson Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in a public place and possession of cannabis. He was sent in custody to Preston Crown Court to be sentenced on February 10. The court heard he was in breach of a Crown Court suspended prison sentence imposed for wounding and possession of an offensive weapon. He also had previous convictions for possessing a knife in public.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said the magistrates would be concerned by the defendant's previous convictions and the fact he was wandering around with the weapon while subject to a 24 months suspended sentence.

He said police attended an address on Dickinson close where they forced entry. Garner approached the property and asked what was going on and an officer saw the handle of the martial arts knife sticking out of his bag and took it off him.

Jane Novas-Morell, defending, said the offence had been "stupid rather that sophisticated."

"You have before you a rather immature 19 year old who knows his liberty is in jeopardy," said Mrs Novas-Morell.

She said Garner was in the back garden of his home messing around with the knife when he heard a commotion coming from a neighbour's house.

"He put the knife in a sheath which he put in his man bag and went to investigate," said Mrs Novas-Morell.

"There is no suggestion he had brandished the knife in any way."