An unemployed mechanic with a set of knuckle-dusters in his pocket was the only member of the public to be caught with a weapon during searches of 844 people at Wolverhampton Bus Station, a court heard.

Leon Morton was found carrying the weapon when West Midlands Police brought mobile metal detectors into the station in Snow Hill on January 22. The 22-year-old appeared at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court yesterday.

Mrs Maggie Meakin, prosecuting, outlined the series of events.

She said: “Police officers were engaged in a crime prevention operation and members of the public were being invited to walk through two knife arches.

“Morton was noticed by officers as he was avoiding them.

“He was approached and asked to walk through them, which he did and the alarms went off. In interview, he made a full and frank admission.”

Mr Ravi Dev, defending, said Morton had come into the city centre on the 529 bus and was going to meet his grandmother. He said he was wearing an old jacket and forgot he had knuckle dusters in his pocket.

Morton, of Essington Way, Eastfield, pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon and was given a 12-month community order, 80 hours of unpaid work and £60 costs.

During the search, another person was cautioned for possession of cannabis. Police have also used the mobile “safety arches” in Oceana nightclub in Wolverhampton.