A MAN stopped by police after a tip-off from a member of the public was found to have a 20 inch machete tucked down his trouser belt.

Blackburn magistrates heard Conan Costello claimed he had bought the implement off a man on the Tesco car park and was taking it home to display on his wall.

Costello, 20, of Manxman Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in York Street, Accrington. He was made subject to a community order for 18 months with 40 days rehabilitation activity requirement and 40 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £85 victim surcharge. The magistrates ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the machete.

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said Costello was stopped by police at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon.

The machete was tucked in his waistband. He said he had arranged to meet a man on the Tesco car park and paid him £30 for the machete.

"He claimed to have bought it for decorative purposes," said Miss Akhtar.

Gemma Collier-Pilkington, defending, said there was no suggestion the machete had been brandished or used in any aggressive way.

"He says he was simply taking it home to hand on the wall," said Mrs Collier-Pilkington.