A WANNABE tattoo artist who 'forgot' he put a blade used to slice meat in his jeans pocket before roaming around outside has avoided jail.

Jordan Moore was wanted by police when he was stopped in Banbury's Market Place, forgetting he had the knife in his back pocket.

The 21-year-old, who had five previous convictions, was handed a two-month sentence, suspended for 12 months, when he appeared at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday.

Officers noticed Moore with another man in the town, arresting him on an outstanding warrant at 12.35am on August 27 last year, prosecutor Alexandra Bull said.

Moore 'hesitated' when quizzed if he had anything he should not, confessing there was a black handle lock knife in his jeans pocket.

The defendant revealed to officers he had been cutting meat at home, placing the knife in his back pocket before arranging to go out to meet a friend.

He claimed he did not intend to brandish the knife but simply forgot it was there, the court was told.

Defence barrister Peter Du Feu said Moore, who must pay a victim surcharge, was cooperative with police when he confessed to his offending.

Moore, who is set to marry a veterinary nurse living in Liverpool after a 'whirlwind' romance, has no violence offences on his criminal record, the barrister told the court.

Sentencing, Recorder Sarah Campbell, who ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the knife, said she believed Moore did not plan to use the blade but told him it was an 'extremely serious' offence.

The knife was not on display or being used in any way, she went on to say.

Moore, of Station Approach, Banbury, admitted possessing a knife blade or sharply pointed article in a public place.