A 20-year-old man arrested for breaching requirements of the sex offender register was found to be in possession of a lock knife.

Blackburn magistrates heard Cailen Kristopher Hackett was homeless and sleeping in a tent on the Coppice at the time.

And jailing him for 26 weeks, District Judge Roger Lowe said it was worrying that a young man should be wandering the streets in the middle of the night carrying a knife.

"There is always the risk that it is going to be used," District Judge Lowe.

Hackett, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in Orange Street, Accrington, and breaching requirements of the sex offender register. He was committed to a young offender institute for 26 weeks.

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said Hackett had correctly registered himself with the police as homeless and was then required to re-register every seven days. When he was arrested for the breach he was found in possession of the knife.

Richard Prew, defending, said he had asked his client where he was living and his reply had been anywhere he could pitch his tent.

"A lot of the time that has been on the Coppice in Accrington," said Mr Prew. "He has neglected to tell the police where he is as often as he is required to do."