POLICE are searching for a man wanted for carrying weapons such as knife and knuckledusters in public places.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Liam Stanton, formerly of Middlewich, after he failed to appear at Crewe Magistrates Court for trial.

The 21-year-old was due in the dock on April 4 to face a charge of possessing a sharp pointed article in public.

The court heard Stanton, now of Alfred Moseley Place in Alsager, had been seen in Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, on January 16 earlier this year with a broken corkscrew.

Stanton had previously been charged with, and pleaded guilty to, other offences involving weapons and drugs.

On August 14 last year, he was found in Alsager with heroin and a knuckleduster.

Three months later, on November 13, Stanton was found in possession of a five-inch bladed kitchen knife while in Church Lawton.

And, on New Year's Day in Newcastle-under-Lyme, he was found in public with a garden pick.

Stanton denied the latest charge, relating to the corkscrew, but Crewe magistrates found him guilty in his absence.

The arrest warrant was issued due to his lack of appearance to answer bail.