A teenager caught with a 10in blade tucked down his trousers - his third knife-related crime - has been locked up for nine months.

Edward Graversen was seen by police acting suspiciously in the Memorial Gardens in Ashford on June 19 and a search revealed what a judge has described as an "extremely dangerous" combat knife.

At the time of his arrest, the then 18-year-old was subject to a four-month suspended sentence handed down in January for two offences of possessing bladed weapons, prosecutor Alexa Le Moine told Canterbury Crown Court.

He was also under a Knife Crime Prevention Order (KCPO), which were introduced by the Home Office to prevent young people from as young as 12 carrying knives and becoming caught up in serious violence.

It was against that background that Recorder Sarah Counsell told Graversen - appearing for sentencing a day after his 19th birthday - that immediate custody was inevitable.

"It sounds as if you are a young man who has been influenced by others and become involved in criminal activity when you might not have done had you had the support of a wider network of family around you in your late teenage years," she said.

"You have committed four offences in 15 months, three involving the possession of a knife. You have breached one court order, you have breached the suspended sentence order.

"I have read the letter you have sent to me and it sounds as if you are beginning your journey of understanding.

"You know the dangers of carrying knives - you have expressed that eloquently in your letter - and you're continuing to put people at risk by the carrying of knives.

"The order (KCPO) was made to prevent that happening. You carried what was an extremely dangerous combat knife.

"I take account of your vulnerabilities, age and lack of parental guidance. Nonetheless, I don't yet see a degree of maturity exhibited that is necessary for me to have faith to believe there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation."

Graversen, of Rutherford Road, Ashford, admitted possessing a knife, breach of a KCPO and breach of a suspended sentence order.

Recorder Counsell imposed five months in a young offenders' institution for the offences committed in June and ordered that the four-month custodial term of the suspended sentence be activated in full, making nine months in total.

Phil Rowley, defending, told the court that Graversen had been adopted at the age of one and lived in the UK until he moved at 11 with his family to Saint Vincent in the Caribbean.

He returned when he was 17 but without "proper family support and guidance", said the lawyer, which led to his offending.

Mr Rowley said the teenager had been exploited by others, the victim of a kidnap, and also subjected to a cell attack and threats while on remand which had left him "anxious and struggling".

Urging the court to to spare Graversen further time behind bars, he added: "He is exactly the candidate to appreciate the well-known short, sharp shock and be well-motivated now to respond positively to his release."

Graversen made the sign of a heart to two women in the public gallery as he left court.

He is expected to be released in just over two months, having already served two months on remand.