A TEENAGER who had a knuckleduster under a mattress at his Carlisle home has been fined £120 and told to pay court costs of £133.

Gareth Holmes, 19, was charged with possessing an offensive weapon in a private place after police searched his Brackenleigh Close home in Belah on October 19 last year, the city’s Rickergate court heard.

When questioned about the knuckleduster, he gave “no comment” replies. The defendant admitted the offence.

The prosecution dropped two further charges – an  allegation that the teenager had a curved blade sword; and an allegation that he had a zombie knife. Defence lawyer Jeff Smith told the court: “The knuckleduster was in his bedroom, under the mattress and he bought it five years ago.

“He was 18 at the time of his arrest.”

District Judge John Temperley told the teenager: “Don’t buy items like this in the future, either in private or in public. You now know it’s an offence.” The judge imposed prosecution costs of £85 and a £48 victim surcharge.

The debt must be paid off at a rate of £20 per month.