Roger James Kilby, 37, of Hill Street, West Bathurst, was convicted in his absence at Bathurst Local Court on November 30 of having a knife in public.

According to police documents before the court, police received a call in relation to two men on West Street in West Bathurst harassing residents for information about a man at 10.15pm on September 22 this year.

Police said they were patrolling Commonwealth Street about 30 minutes after the radio request when they saw Kilby - who they said matched the description given to police - walking along a footpath.

The court heard police stopped and spoke with Kilby, who immediately told officers he had a penknife for "protection" because he had allegedly been assaulted.

During sentencing in open court, Magistrate Elizabeth Ellis found the charges against Kilby proven before he was fined $400 and ordered to forfeit the weapon.

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