A TAUNTON man who admitted charges of possessing a knife, using threatening behaviour and making off from a restaurant without paying his bill has been sent to Taunton Crown Court to be sentenced.

Benjamin John Clare appeared before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil in custody facing a string of offences after being arrested by the police.

The court was also told that the defendant was in breach of a suspended prison sentence made by the crown court in September last year for an offence of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Clare, 34, of Severn Drive, pleaded guilty that on March 7 at Frankie and Bennys in Yeovil, knowing that payment for food and drink was required, he dishonestly made off without payment of £98.78.

He also admitted on the same date to using towards James Witherden threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause him to believe that immediate unlawful violence would be used against him.

Somerset County Gazette:

Frankie and Benny's, Yeovil

He also pleaded guilty to being at a public place in Yeovil while in possession of a kitchen knife on May 28 and further admitted using towards Joseph Quirke threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour intending hm to fear violence.

The court heard that the defendant had also been convicted of an offence using threatening behaviour towards Robbie Gullis and Benjamin Humphries at Yeovil on April 9 following a trial before the magistrates.

Clare also admitted being in breach of his suspended sentence order made on September 26, 2017 by committing these latest offences.

The magistrates said the case was so serious that the defendant must be sent back to the crown court to be dealt with.

They adjourned all matters until August 10 when he is due to be sentenced by a judge at Taunton and in the meantime released him on bail.

They ordered hm to abide by conditions of a curfew between 7pm and 7am daily; not to enter KFC or Frankie and Bennys in Yeovil, to live and sleep at his home address, to report to Taunton police station daily and cooperate with the Probation Service.