Silver baton: man in court

A 26-year-old man was slapped with a 12-month community order yesterday after being caught with a silver shafted baton in Derker.

Jonathan Jenkins (26), of Kipling Road, was seen by police in the early hours of Sunday April 24, on Vulcan Street, carrying what he described as a cosh.

Drunk and near the entrance of Stoneleigh Park, he said he had been assaulted and had gone home to pick up the foot-long weapon with revenge on his attackers in mind.

Having already pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon, he was handed the community order at Oldham Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Jenkins was also ordered to pay £85 in costs and attend the Covaid programme with probation, a group work scheme for males who have behaved violently under the influence of alcohol.