A 53-YEAR-OLD man, who was arrested after he was spotted carrying a knife near a Frankley school, pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in a public place yesterday afternoon.

Self-employed John Averall, of The Dowries in Rubery, was arrested by West Midlands Police on September 13, after reports were received that an adult was acting in a dangerous manner near Balaam Wood Academy on New Street.

Warning text messages were sent to parents, reassuring them that staff would be present when children left at the end of the school day.

Averall appeared at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on September 28, where he was given a community order, lasting until September 26, 2017, and has been issued with a curfew for the next three months.

A spokesman for Balaam Wood Academy said: "I would like to confirm that this incident was in no way connected to Balaam Wood School and that no member of the school community was in any danger.

"As always, we work closely with the Police and any other agencies to ensure that Frankley is a safe place for all. The safety of your child and our pupils is of paramount importance to us."