A MAN appeared in court after being found with a knife – and claimed it was used to protect his prostitute girlfriend.

Marcus Lettice, of Richmond Flats in Huddersfield town centre, was at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

He admitted possession of a bladed article in the town on April 7.

Linda Fowler, prosecuting, said that on that date police were on duty in Great Northern Street just before midnight when their attention was drawn to Lettice. When the 32-year-old saw the police vehicle he quickened his pace and the officers decided to stop him.

They searched him and a kitchen knife with a six-inch blade was recovered from his trouser pocket.

In interview Lettice told police that the knife was for the protection of his girlfriend from abusive customers.

Mike Sisson-Pell, defending, said that Lettice’s girlfriend works in the known red-light area as a prostitute.

He said: “She has the kitchen knife to protect herself and had left it down there.

“When he (Lettice) went to recover it he was seen by police coming back to where he lived. His girlfriend sometimes works as a prostitute and the knife was left down there in case customers go over the top.

“He wasn’t carrying it for his own protection.”

Lettice admitted further offences of a theft of memory cards from the town’s Sainsbury’s store and failing to attend a drugs assessment at Lifeline Kirklees.

When he was stopped for the knife possession and theft, Lettice tested positive for opiates at the police station.

District Judge Marie Mallon adjourned his case for a drug rehabilitation assessment and he will next appear before the court on May 28.