A VANDAL caught with a knife in a Herefordshire street has been ordered to complete unpaid work.

Christopher Joyce appeared before magistrates in Hereford for sentencing in May after entering guilty pleas to one count of possessing a knife or sharp pointed article in a public place and one count of causing criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 at an earlier hearing.

The court heard from prosecutor Mark Hambling that the 37-year-old, who was represented at the hearing by defence solicitor Chris Read, had, without good reason or lawful authority, been in possession of a steak knife in Hereford's St John Street on January 1.

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He had also, intentionally or recklessly, caused £1,047 worth of damage to three windows, a bath, and wall tiles belonging to another person in Hereford on the same date, the court heard.

Joyce, of Eign Road, Hereford, was handed a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay compensation of £200, with magistrates saying they had taken his guilty plea into account when imposing the penalty.

He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £185 and a £95 victim surcharge.