RED-faced police chiefs have launched an inquiry after a Padiham man accused of carrying a knife walked free from court when the weapon could not be found.

Twenty-three-year-old Michael Grattan was due to stand trial at Liverpool Crown Court, accused of possessing a lock knife last October.

But it emerged that the knife could not be produced at the hearing and Mr Grattan, of Cowley Crescent, who had denied possession of a sharply-pointed article, was sent home.

Police in the case had even returned to Liverpool’s St Anne Street station, in a bid to recover the weapon.

However, when they arrived back at court, without the knife, prosecutor Simon Duncan offered no evidence.

Mr Grattan had been detained and charged following an incident in the city’s Brownlow Hill area late last October.

Judge John Roberts said: “There is no reflection on the officers but it seems there has been some sort of mess up in the administrative confines of St Anne Street.”

The judge told the court that when exhibits are taken into the police station they must be looked after and known exactly where they are.

Later Merseyside Police announced that a review was being done into the management of crime exhibits.

Supt Graham Yip said: “We have launched an immediate review of the case of Michael Grattan regarding the management of crime exhibits to ensure that lessons are learned to prevent incidents of this nature from happening again.

“Merseyside Police is committed to improving the quality of service we provide to members of the public and we constantly review processes we have in place.”