A YOUTH was left so frightened after being mugged that he carried a knife, a court heard yesterday.

Bruno Mayingi Lunkulu, 18, from London, was found with a six-inch knife at Darlington railway station on February 10.

He was given a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £20 costs.

Darlington Magistrates heard how he was mugged earlier that evening in Middlesbrough, after coming to the region to help his friend collect some puppies.

Toby Thomas, prosecuting, said the knife was concealed in Lunkulu's waist band, and after being informed by Cleveland Police, British Transport Police officers at the station searched him and found the weapon.

Trevor Jones, mitigating, said after the mugging, Lunkulu carried the knife at the suggestion of someone else.

"They were petrified after the attack, and there was no suggestion it was brandished."