A GRAYS man with a record of criminal activity and previous convictions has escaped jail after being charged with a knife crime.

Darren Burdett, 32, of Manor Road, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court recently, the day after being found in possession of a kitchen knife in the town the day before.

Burdett, who offered no good reason for carrying the weapon, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

Burdett must also complete up to ten days of rehabilitation activity during the supervision period.

The knife was ordered to be forfeited and destroyed. 

The incident comes in the wake of recent positive news from Essex Police that knife crime in Thurrock has been decreasing.

In June Essex Police Commisioner Roger Hirst said: "We are making great strides in reducing knife crime across the county. 

"We are bucking the national trend and knife crime is falling. Since our Violence and Vulnerability Unit was established in 2019, over £9 million of investment has been brought into the county and during this time – with a concerted effort on prevention, early intervention and working with Essex Police on enforcement – we have seen a 24% reduction in knife crime, with hospitals reporting over 50% reduction in knife harm incidents."

The action in Thurrock to combat knife crime included a concerted effort last year when Grays was identified as a ''high harm hotspot'. Police officers made a concerted effort under a programme called 'Operation Grip' to act pro-actively and reduce the number of knives carred on local streets.