A YOUNG Bradford man carried two knives in a museum then racially abused a police officer.

Adil Afzal, 21, of Ellerton Street, Barkerend, pleaded guilty to three offences at Leeds Magistrates' Court on November 11 last year and was sentenced on Wednesday.

He admitted two counts of possessing a knife blade or sharp-pointed article in a public place and racially or religiously aggravated harassment, alarm, distress by words, or writing.

Afzal was handed a community order by the court for the offences.

The 21-year-old was caught carrying two Stanley knives at Leeds City Museum, off Cookridge Street and Millennium Square on April 27 last year.

Afzal also used racially aggravated behaviour towards a police officer on the same day, on Cookridge Street.

This was threatening, abusive, or insulting words, behaviour, or disorderly behaviour which caused the officer to feel harassed, alarmed or distressed.

Court records show a community order was imposed as a direct alternative to custody, as the court heard Afzal has mental health issues and a lack of maturity.

The community order includes a number of requirements.

One of those is a 12-hour curfew for eight weeks, which started on the day of sentencing.

Afzal will be electronically monitored and must not leave his home between 7pm and 7am.

The community order also includes 30 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days, which must be completed by January 10, 2024.

Afzal’s responsible officer can instruct him to participate in an activity, or ask him to attend an appointment, and he must comply, up to a maximum of 30 days.

The 21-year-old was also ordered to pay £199.

This includes a £114 surcharge to fund victim services and costs of £85.

The court made an application to deduct the total from Afzal’s benefits and the balance must be paid by January 25.

The court also ordered for the two Stanley knives to be forfeited under Section 153 of the Sentencing Act 2020 and destroyed.

Afzal’s guilty pleas were taken into account when sentencing but the amount of RAR days imposed was uplifted from 20 to 30 due to the racially aggravated nature of the abuse of the police officer.

Leeds City Museum is a popular attraction in the centre of the city and has a number of exhibitions spread across the calendar, as well as hosting events.