A MAN who was allegedly found in Chard town centre carrying a large Bowie knife along with a number of items stolen during a burglary at a local antiques shop is to stand trial at Taunton Crown Court.

Mervyn Webster, was found by police who were searching the area following reports of a man carrying a large knife.

When they found the defendant in Henson Park they allegedly saw the knife sticking out of the top of his trousers, and when he was arrested he was also found in possession of items taking during the antiques raid including three watches.

Webster, 22, of Old Station Court, Chard, appeared in the dock before Somerset Magistrates, sitting at Yeovil.

He pleaded not guilty to a charge that on July 20 at Chard he had with him in a public place, namely Henson Park car park, a wooden handled 10 inch Bowie knife.

He also denied a further offence of dishonestly receiving stolen goods, namely a quantity of jewellery belonging to Neil Ling valued at approximately £300.

He was also charged with a further offence of damaging the windscreen of a BMW belonging to Sophie Kelly at Taunton on July 20.

Prosecutor Ben Winzer said that after the defendant was arrested on suspicion of possessing a knife he was searched and found to have three watches on his person that had been stolen during a burglary in Chard several weeks earlier.

Defending solicitor Sam Morton said that if Webster was convicted of the offences then he would be in breach of a suspended prison sentence imposed at the crown court for previous matters.

The defendant elected to stand trial at the crown court and the case was adjourned until September 10 when he must attend a pre trial hearing at Taunton.

Until then he was released on unconditional bail.

Area 51 Antiques and Collectables was burgled in the early hours on Sunday, July 1, just days before the company’s fourth anniversary.

A number of items, mostly silver jewellery, were taken. A CCTV image was released following the incident.