A 52-YEAR-old man who brandished a meat cleaver in a Blackburn taxi office was given a chance to show that he could keep out of trouble.

And Blackburn magistrates heard that during the six months of his deferred sentence, Leonard Roy Tonge's behaviour had been exemplary.

Tonge, of Pendle House, Blackburn, had pleaded guilty to having the cleaver in a public place and using threatening behaviour.

Simon Farnworth, defending, said during the period of deferment Tonge had been a model client."He has taken the chance offered to him and has not slipped up in any way, shape or form," said Mr Farnworth.

The magistrates imposed a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered Tonge to pay £50 costs.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.