A MAN has been jailed for nine months for possession of an arsenal of weapons including assault knives and a spring-loaded cosh.

The weapons were discovered when police swooped on Clint Shepherd's car in the car park of the Lidl distribution depot, in Crabtree Manorway North, in Belvedere, in April, after a call from a member of the public.

Sarah Lefoe for the prosecution said: "In the driver's side door pocket they came across a spring-loaded cosh and Shepherd said it was for his own protection."

When they searched the boot of the car, officers found a black bag which contained three boxed lock knives, nine plastic knives, five sheath knives, 12 blade concealing pens, three butterfly knives, five leaf knives, eight lock knives, one knuckle duster, five flick knives and two Cobra assault knives.

Shepherd, from Wentworth Drive, Dartford, had pleaded guilty at Bexley Magistrates' Court to possessing a cobra assault knife, possessing a blade or point and possession of a butterfly knife for sale or hire.

Defending, James Henderson said it all started when Shepherd visited his grandfather who was ill in Spain.

Friends asked him to bring items back and he realised he could make money from bringing knives back from Spain. The trips, therefore, started to become more regular.

Mr Henderson said: "He did not understand the implications."

He added Shepherd, who has previous convictions for assault on police, criminal damage and threatening behaviour, had mental health problems but was controlling them with medication.

But, jailing him for nine months, the judge, Mr Recorder Methuen, said Shepherd may well have been prepared to use the cosh found in his car and the other weapons could have fallen into the hands of people who would use them for criminal activities.