A toothless tramp caught carrying a steak knife in Kingston was acquitted last week, after telling magistrates he needed it to cut up bread and cheese.

Steven Johnston, 49, of no fixed abode, was stopped and searched by police in Clarence Street on December 20 and they found the knife in his bag.

John Shepherd, prosecuting at the trial at Kingston Magistrates' Court, on February 1, said: "The crown will say Mr Johnston did not have a good reason for carrying this knife.

"He didn't have any bread, cheese or indeed any steak."

Giving evidence, Mr Johnston said he had an operation to remove all of his teeth following a tumour in his nose in December last year, which had left him unable to eat - he said a friend gave him the steak knife after seeing him struggling to cut up his food with a small pen knife.

"All I could do was sip soup and I was getting sick and tired of it. I could not even eat a tomato. I had to just suck the juice and pips out of it - it's embarrassing when you're walking down the street dribbling trying to eat a sandwich.

"The knife wasn't on me for malicious reasons, I didn't think anything of it."

Mr Johnston, who had to be woken up by the clerk after falling asleep in court, reacted angrily to suggestions he could eat other food which did not require him to carry a knife.

He said: "So because I am homeless I am not allowed a variation on my food?"

Klentiana Mahmutaj, defending for Mr Johnston, said: "Mr Johnston is not an ordinary homeless person - he had a drastic operation which left him in an uncomfortable and unusual position.

"It is difficult enough for any person with a nice home and kitchen to have no teeth and try to feed themselves in these circumstances, let alone a homeless man."

Magistrates acquitted Mr Johnston who, outside court, said: "I don't know why they had to arrest me - they should be chasing the kids that harass me and have burned down my tent twice."