Prolific offender with 46 convictions spared jail after being caught with drugs and knife
A drug addict and alcoholic with 46 previous convictions has been spared jail despite being caught with a knife and drugs after a judge said that prison would "not rehabilitate him".
Peter Thomas, 43, of no fixed abode, was found in The Square, Shrewsbury, with a kitchen knife, after the known offender was spotted in a group by police officers patrolling the town, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard on Thursday.
Following a search, police also found a wrap of cannabis on him and he was arrested.
The court heard that Thomas, who had previously pleaded guilty for possessing the knife and drugs, had a history of drug and alcohol abuse, and had 46 previous convictions for 89 offences dating back more than 20 years, including seven offences of being in possession of a knife.
