A scaffolder caught in Abingdon town centre with a Samurai sword has walked free from court.

Leslie Prince, 21, was stopped by police outside Strattons nightclub in the early hours of May 2 when CCTV operators spotted him with an object concealed in his clothes.

Police found the two-foot long sword in a case stuffed down Prince’s trousers.

He claimed he was taking it home and had no intention of using it.

He told a previous hearing: “I was scared because I had a great big Samurai sword down my trousers and I knew I probably shouldn’t have it.

“There was no other means of getting it home and I didn’t want to go on the bus. ”

Yesterday Didcot magistrates said jailing Prince, of Regal Close, Abingdon, would be a waste of taxpayers’ money.

Instead, Prince received an eight-week sentence, suspended for a year, 220 hours of community service and was told to pay £300 costs. The sword will be destroyed and Prince said he had already disposed of another weapon.

Presiding magistrate Prof John Howson said: “You are being punished because society does not believe it is right for you to have such a weapon in public.”