A man has been fined after pleading guilty to possessing a knife in a public place.

Robert Clark, of Cottingham Court, Darlington, admitted the charge to District Judge Michael Wood when he appeared at the town's magistrates' court yesterday.

The 31-year-old was walking his dog in one of the borough's parks, when he was approached by police officers, who were responding to a call of a disturbance in the area.

The officers asked Clark if he was in possession of a blade and he admitted to carrying a small lock knife in his back pocket.

Clark was arrested to be interviewed and his knife was confiscated. The incident happened on October 7.

The court was told Clark used the knife as part of his job as a groundworker.

Zoe Passfield, mitigating, said her client admitted he was carrying a blade.

She said: "My client always carries the knife while he is working and he has simply forgotten to take it out of his pocket when he got home.

"There is nothing to suggest he was involved in any disturbance."

Clark was fined £125 and will pay court costs of £43.