A NORTHWICH man has been given a reprieve from an immediate spell behind bars after admitting being in possession an offensive weapon in public.

Elliot Shillito, of Bond Street in Winnington, pleaded guilty to three offences, including affray and criminal damage when he appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on August 24.

The 35-year-old was appearing at the city's Crown Court to be sentenced, after the offences were deemed too serious for the lower court to hand out a suitable punishment.

Shillito admitted brandishing the Dewalt key hole saw on Townsend Road on June 28 this year and threatening unlawful violence, leading people to fear for their safety.

The defendant also caused damage to a Volkswagen Caddy car belonging to Ben Johnson, in a manner described as reckless by the court.

Shillito was handed a 10 month prison sentence, but that was suspended for a period of 18 months, with conditions put in place to ensure he stays out of trouble, including being subjected to wearing an electronic tag and abiding by a night time curfew.

As part of the suspended sentence order, the defendant will have to wear the tag for the next three months and has to remain at an address in Lostock between the hours of 9pm and 5.30am.

Shillito will also have to complete 60 hours of unpaid work and was also made subject of alcohol abstinence monitoring for the next 12 months.

He will also be required to work with the probation service on an alcohol rehabilitation programme and must pay a surcharge to fund victims services of £156.

The court also imposed a 12 month restraining order on Shillito, which bars him from making contact with Rebecca Dunne by any means.