A YOUNG man has been jailed after being caught carrying a knife in Witney Town Centre.

Christian Ellis-Leachman, 20, was caught on September 29 last year with a knife hidden in his waistband as well as a small amount of cannabis.

The offence occurred less than a month after he received an eight-month sentence, suspended for 24 months.

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Sentencing him to eight months in a youth offenders institute, Judge Maria Lamb said that carrying a knife is a ‘grave offence’.

“The stabbings which have taken place in this community in very recent days, all of it points to courts having to deal with these offences.

“It was made perfectly plain what the consequences would be.”

Opening the case, prosecutor Kathy Oliver said the defendant had been stopped in the town centre by officers who were trying to deter drug deals.

“They had information that Mr Ellis-Leachman was there and loitering with another man on the street,” she said.

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He was stopped be officers and attempted to run away while being detained. However, they managed to stop and search him where a quantity of cannabis was found and a four-inch knife.

It was noted in court that the amount of cannabis was consistent with that of personal use.

The court heard he has several previous convictions included possession of cannabis in 2019 as well as supply of cannabis, assault of an emergency worker and criminal damage in the same year.

In June last year, he was back in court for traffic matters and in September last year, he was sentenced for the supply of cannabis.

Defending Ellis-Leachman, his barrister said it would be ‘unfair’ to suggest the knife was present to ‘back up’ drug dealing as there was no evidence for this.

He added that the youth had had a difficult childhood and was subject to bullying and teasing in school.

It was also heard that he has a diagnosis of autism.

Despite breaching his suspended sentence, it was noted that Ellis-Leachman had however complied with the other orders of the sentence including all appointments bar one, completed 150 hours of unpaid work and seven rehabilitation activity days.

Judge Lamb said she took this into consideration when sentencing as well as his autism diagnosis and his young age.

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He received four mounts for possession of the knife and four months for breaching his suspended sentence.

Ellis-Leachman, of Farmers Close, Witney, also received a seven-day concurrent sentence for the possession of the cannabis.

A forfeiture and destruction order was made for the drugs.