A BERKELEY man who was found to be in possession of a six inch blade has avoided jail.

Mark Baker, 48, of Station Road, was found guilty of possessing a bladed article in a public place when he appeared before Cheltenham magistrates on July 8.

Baker committed the offence on June 20 at Romney Road in Tetbury.

He was given a eight-week prison sentence suspended for one year and ordered to pay costs of £160.