A TEENAGER who was carrying a knife, resisted arrest after stealing a 90p energy bar from Sainsbury's Local.

Harrison French, aged 18, "struggled" with an off-duty police officer after being spotted shoplifting. The knife was found when he was subsequently searched, Worcester Magistrates Court heard.

Kriss Ewing, prosecuting, said: "PC Gibson was off duty. He was in Sainsburys Local in Foregate Street when he heard a commotion.

"Security staff had apprehended someone for shoplifting. PC Gibson took hold of Harrison French and arrested him."

She added that French had resist the arrest and "struggled" before another off duty officer came to assist.

Gerry Vahey, defending, said French had resisted PC Gibson's instruction to lie down facing the floor.

Mr Vahey said: "He is an 18-year-old with no previous convictions. This is a situation that got completely out of hand.

"He has gone into the shop, stolen a chocolate bar and turned to leave the shop with it."

"He did not know that the knife had found its way into his possession. He did not know it was illegal."

He added that French, of Derwent House, Kidderminster, was using the knife for cooking after his flatmates had stolen his kitchen knives.

He also said he had enough money to pay for the bar.

French admitted obstructing a constable in the execution of duty, possessing a knife and theft from the Foregate Street shop at Worcester Magistrates Court yesterday (Thursday, October 19).

The offences took place on Friday, September 22.

A destruction order was made for the knife and French was ordered to pay £120 for possession of the knife, £80 for theft and £40 resisting arrest

He was also ordered to pay £185 court costs and £30 victim surcharge.