23 WEEK PRISON TERM OVER BEATING

A RUNCORN man has been sentenced to 23 weeks for assault and possession of a knife.

Joshua Phillip Childs, 27, of Boston Avenue, pleaded guilty to assaulting a female by beating her, and changed a previously not guilty plea to guilty for having a bladed article.

Court papers said Childs also admitted using threatening or abusive words towards his victim. The charges relate to an incident on March 3 and March 21. Childs was ordered to pay £100 in compensation to his victim and a surcharge of £15. He was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison for possessing a knife and five weeks consecutive for assault.