A teenager who was found with a knife in Braintree has been handed a year-long referral order.

The 15-year-old from Leigh-on-Sea appeared at Chelmsford Youth Court on Friday, October 26, where he admitted possession of a knife and cannabis.

At around noon on Sunday, August 26, a concerned bus passenger overhead a boy saying he was in possession of knife.

Police used stop and search powers to search him outside Braintree bus station and found cannabis and a four inch kitchen knife.

At court he was ordered to complete a 12 month referral order with a youth offender panel and to pay a victim surcharge.

The referral order means the teen will have to agree and comply with a contract of terms which act as the sentence.

The knife and drugs have been destroyed.

To find out more about how Essex Police deals with knife crime visit https://www.essex.police.uk/advice/knife-crime/.