A man caught with a knife in his car 'forgot all about' the fact he put it there, a court heard.

Simon Jones, of Bower Farm Drive in St Martins, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon.

The 55-year-old admitted that on September 21, at High Street in Ruabon, he had in his possession a locking knife.

Prosecutor Justin Espie began by telling the Magistrates that Jones had a related like conviction on his record, making him subject to a mandatory minimum custodial term of six months for the latest offence.

As for the facts, Mr Espie explained police on patrol in Ruabon spotted a vehicle which they had information about.

When they stopped it and spoke to the defendant, the officers discovered a folding knife in the centre console of the vehicle.

Ceri Lewis, defending, said: "The police stopped the vehicle regarding an unrelated matter and it was when they were speaking to him they found this knife.

"He fully accepted possession of it. He'd been doing some work on his vehicle the week before and put it in the centre console.

"After that, he forgot all about it.

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"He does have the relevant previous conviction, albeit from 10 years ago."

Ms Lewis said her client was "not a frequent visitor to the court anymore like he was a few years ago."

She added her client has "various health problems," adding: "I don't think custody is a place for Mr Jones, particularly with the current climate of overcrowding."

The Magistrates handed down a custodial sentence of four months, but having taken into consideration the length of time which had passed since the last related conviction, opted to suspend it for 12 months.

Jones must pay £85 costs and a £154 victim surcharge.