AN EAST Lancashire man who flew home from Bangkok with a suitcase packed with flick knives, knuckledusters and a stun gun said he bought the weapons as gifts.

Ghulam Jalani, 44, boarded a Manchester-bound flight after buying the weapons during a visit to Thailand.

The suitcase was checked in, but he was not stopped and searched until he landed at Manchester Airport.

The father-of-seven told officers the knives and knuckledusters were presents for friends. And he claimed he planned to keep the stun gun in his car for self-defence.

Jalani, of Commercial Street, Brierfield, was given a nine-month prison, sentence suspended for 12 months after admitting possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

He was also ordered to do 80 hours unpaid work.

Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, heard how Jalani had bought the items as gifts from a souvenir shop.

He had just picked up his luggage in the baggage pick-up point in Terminal Two when he was stopped by customs officers who had been tipped off about his haul.

His baggage was searched, and detectives discovered the items.

Three of the flick knives were also functioning lighters, and the stun gun could be used as a torch.

He claimed the knives and knuckledusters were presents for friends.

He said he intended to keep the stun gun in his car for self-defence.

Sentencing Jalani, Judge Adrian Smith said: "In the hands of the wrong people, these are weapons that can cause serious injury.

"Even if you gave these things to people as presents your are distributing them.

"They can do anything with them on the streets."