A MAN has been jailed after being found with a knife and a pair of scissors in two separate incidents in Southampton and Locks Heath.

Jacob Willoughby, was part of a group that broke into a car in Curlew Road, Whiteley, on December 18 last year and stole a wallet.

The car’s owner was alerted to the theft, got behind the wheel and set off to track down the people responsible.

He confronted the group at an Esso Petrol Station on Bridge Road in Locks Heath and police were called.

Officers located Willoughby, who was carrying a pair of large Tuff-cut scissors. He was arrested and charged with theft and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

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In a separate incident, Willoughby was arrested by British Transport Police at Southampton Central station on July 1 last year after he was caught with a large, black-handled kitchen knife.

He was subsequently charged with possession of a knife in a public place.

Willoughby, 22, of New Road, Southampton, appeared at Southampton Crown Court and pleaded guilty to all the offences. He was jailed for 12 months.

Speaking after the hearing PC Rosy Dudeney Cotterill said: "We take a robust stance against anyone who chooses to carry a knife or a weapon.

"As soon as you make that choice to pick up a blade, you run the very real risk of seriously injuring or even killing someone.

"We want to make clear that even in circumstances where a weapon is not used, there can be serious consequences to carrying one, including prison as in Jacob Willoughby’s case.

"There is simply no excuse."