A teenager who was caught carrying a knife around the streets of Bucks has been sentenced.

Kalam Shah, 18, of Woolmans, Milton Keynes, has been ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work after he was caught in the town with a knife on Thursday 15 July.

On the day he was caught, police were called to Oldbrook Boulevard following reports of a group of people seen with knives.

Seven people were stopped and searched by officers, and eventually a lock knife was located.

Shah confessed that the knife was his, and he was arrested and charged. None of the other suspects were found to have weapons on them.

At Milton Keynes Magistrates' Court on Friday, Shah pleaded guilty to charges of knife possession and cannabis possession.

He was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, fined £90 and told to pay £213 in costs.

Investigating officer Detective Constable James Schöpp of the Milton Keynes Priority Crime Team said: “Through our new initiative, Operation Deter, we have swiftly brought Shah to justice and removed a knife from our communities.

“Shah pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and had no previous convictions, and so this sentence should serve as a warning to others that if you are found in possession of a knife, you should expect to face the consequences.

“A community order such as this is no light touch, and Shah will have to complete 200 hours of community service as a result of his decision to carry this knife.

“Be under no doubt, if you are caught in possession of a knife in Milton Keynes, Operation Deter will pursue you, arrest you and place you before the courts.

“We are resolute in our determination to make our communities safer by removing knives from our streets.

“You are more likely to be injured by your own knife if you carry one, so my message is clear. Do not become a statistic, and do not risk ending up with a criminal record by making a decision to carry a knife.

“My message to the community is if you have any information about anybody who is carrying a knife, please report this to us, either on 101 or by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111.”