A NOMAD who used large knives to catch rabbits as he lived off the land was cleared by a jury of possessing an offensive weapon.

Wanderer Melville Bird, 52, was arrested on York Railway Station last August after a commuter spotted a large sheath knife on his belt.

Bird was arrested and he told officers he used the knives to catch animals.

PC Michael Probyns told the jury: "I told him you don't find many of these on York Railway Station and arrested him and took him to the police station."

He said Bird produced another knife from his jacket pocket and said it was for skinning and gutting rabbits for food.

Bird was charged with two offences of possessing offensive weapons which he denied.

Bird told the court he lived off nature's larder and had two expert rabbit-catching dogs as companions.

He said he had no home but lived much of his time in a barn at Black Quarry near Leyburn and tramped the Yorkshire Dales. He kept all his worldly belongings in a rucksack and had no longer any desire to be part of mainstream society.

After the jury cleared Bird, Judge Hoffman said it was right the case should have been brought and warned Bird to keep the knives out of the public's gaze.