A teenager caught in possession of a knife and cannabis after going to London to see his cousin has been given a 10-week curfew.

Alper Basoglu, of Swinburne Road, Ipswich, had previously pleaded guilty at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court to possessing the butterfly knife and the Class B drug.

The 19-year-old was caught after police received a tip-off that five teenagers were acting suspiciously on April 13 in Warwick Grove, Hackney.

Prosecutor David Bryant said there was concern over them possibly using drugs.

When Basoglu was searched a small amount of cannabis resin was found in one of his pockets. A white BMW was searched and a holdall or man bag was discovered in the rear offside footwell.

Inside the bag was a silver-handled butterfly knife and a quantity of herbal cannabis.

Basoglu admitted the bag and the cannabis were his. He told police he had forgotten the knife was in the bag and that he had gone to London the previous day to see his cousin.

Basoglu, a barber, told police he sometimes has a knife on him.

However, he denied knowing the knife was in the bag or how it came to be there.

A reference from Basoglu’s employer was handed in to the court.

Basoglu, representing himself, said “I’m very sorry and it won’t happen again.

“I have stopped smoking (cannabis) after all this happened.”

District Judge Celia Dawson told the teenager she had read a pre-sentence report compiled by the probation service.

The judge said: “I’m disappointed that in the report you don’t seem to realise how serious carrying a knife is.

“Fatalities from knife injuries are huge.

“Just one slip and you end somebody’s life or somebody ends yours.”

However, the judge acknowledged the report also showed Basoglu had drive and ambition adding: “That does you a great deal of credit.”

The 10-week curfew imposed on Basoglu will run from 9pm to 7am, but will be suspended for a period of time for family reasons.

Basoglu was told he must also complete 100 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months.

In addition he was ordered to pay £85 costs and a further £85 to the victims’ fund.