A MAN who tried to get into a nightclub armed with a knife was stopped by bouncers before being arrested by police for a burglary.

Paolo Bala, 20, was spared jail after being caught with the blade at Talk Nightclub, in Lucy Road, Southend, on Saturday night.

Door staff found the three-inch lock-knife on him as he queued to get into the nightspot before calling the police via the town’s Townlink radio system.

Officers quickly found that Bala, of Tower Court Mews, Westcliff, was wanted on suspicion of a burglary in Bournemouth Park Road, Southend, on April 10.

He appeared at Basildon Magistrates’ Court and was jailed for four months for each offence, suspended for 18 months, to run consecutively.

Chief Insp Scott Cannon, Southend district commander, praised staff at the nightclub for spotting the potentially deadly weapon.

He said: “It’s great that the door staff are being proactive about searching people going into the club.

“It does make me question the motive of someone who goes into a nightclub and arms themselves with a lock-knife.

“Let this be a message to people who carry knives that we will take positive action. Knife crime remains a priority for Southend.

“It also shows the effectiveness of the Townlink system- they called us, we turned up and it transpired that he was wanted for burglary.

“He was also charged for the burglary and was remanded straight to court.”

The court heard Bala claimed he was only carrying the knife for protection, although magistrates said it was an aggravating factor that he had been trying to take it into a public venue.

The burglary took place at the home of a family member.

Bala had approached the property from the rear and used a screwdriver from the garden shed to smash a window.

Bala, who has no previous convictions, stole jewellery and cash worth about £500 in order to pay a drugs debt.

As well as the suspended prison sentence, he was told to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, £235 compensation, £85 costs and a £115 victim surcharge.

The knife find comes a month after a 17-year-old boy received serious injuries after being stabbed inside the Kursaal, in Southend, on April 15.

The incident sparked a police review of search procedures at Southend pubs and clubs to see if licensed premises can do more to weed out people carrying knives. Nes Kisoka, 18, will appear in court later this month.