A Welshpool man who concealed an 8 inch knife down his trousers and stole an iPhone was sent to prison for six months.

George Shearer, of Dol-y-felin, pleaded guilty to charges of possession of a knife and theft from person during a hearing at Welshpool Magistrates Court on Tuesday, July 20.

Shearer was appearing from custody at HMP Berwyn, having been recalled for beaching bail conditions on an earlier offence.

The court was told that 53-year-old had grabbed a phone in an "opportunist theft", after it was left unattended on a table by a staff member at Costa Coffee on Broad Street.

Following the theft, the staff member at the store was able to recover the phone from the canal embankment using a phone location app, where it had been left by the defendant.

In an unconnected incident four days later on July 17, Shearer had worried neighbours at Clive Apartments in Welshpool who believed he was concealing a knife.

Victim impact statements from residents at the property said they had been made to feel "unsafe in their own homes" after discovering the defendant in the area, however when challenged Shearer claimed he was visiting a friend.

Police were called and an 8" kitchen knife belonging to the defendant was subsequently recovered.

Defending, Robert Hanratty said his client "strongly rejected" the idea that he had intended to intimidate anyone with the knife.

He said his client had denied having the knife concealed on his person, but had some belongings with him which happened to include the kitchen knife.

With regard to the phone, he said that no lasting damage had been done as the phone had been recovered that day, and he described it as a "thoughtless act, by someone who allowed temptation to get the better of them."

Shearer was sentenced to 6 months in custody for possession of the knife and ordered to pay £85 costs. A victim surcharge of £128 was also levied.