A TWELVE-YEAR-OLD boy accused of a string of knife offences including the theft and possession of swords, kitchen knives and a bayonet has been allowed to go unpunished after police have given him a caution.

The Somerset boy, and who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with committing the string of serious offences at Frome between December 2017 and January this year.

He was charged that on January 6 at an address in Foundry Barton, Frome, he stole a sword, hatchet and two wooden knives along with the theft of a utility hammer on December 31 from Lidl in Frome.

The child, from Taunton, was also charged that on January 4 at the Original Factory Shop in Frome he stole two small kitchen knives.

It was also alleged on January 6 that he was in a public place, namely at the British Heart Foundation in Scott Road, Frome, while in possession of an offensive weapon, namely a Samuri sword and two small kitchen knives.

It was further alleged that on December 30 at Park Road in Frome he had with him in a public place a bayonet, four small knives, one scythe and one blade from a sword.

On January 11 the defendant was charged with stealing a Star Wars wallet valued at £5.99 belonging to an unknown person.

Also, on December 11 it was alleged he had with him in Castle Street, Frome, a small fixed blade kitchen knife.

The case was put before Somerset Magistrates, sitting at a previous hearing of the Yeovil Youth Court which the defendant did not attend.

The Bench was told that following an application the case had been referred back to the police to see if they would consider giving the youth a caution instead of pressing ahead with a prosecution.

A person has to admit that they are guilty of a crime in order to be given a police caution.

When the case was put back before the youth court the magistrates were told that the police had since agreed to issue the defendant with a caution which was administered on September 10.

As a result all the allegations against him were discontinued.