A KNIFEMAN who brandished a 12-inch blade in public has been jailed for failing to comply with the Probation Service.

Paul Smyth, of Anchor Court, Lacey Green, Wilmslow, was sentenced at Chester Magistrates’ Court on October 7.

The 60-year-old had pleaded guilty to possessing a 30cm kitchen blade in the street outside his home on June 24, this year, at an earlier hearing on August 1.

The defendant was imprisoned for 146 days because he failed to comply with the Probation Service to prepare a pre-sentence report.

A warrant for arrest had been issued on October 1 because he had failed to answer bail.

Magistrates said the offence is so serious 'only a custodial sentence can be justified’.

The reasons for custody given in court included the nature and seriousness of the offence, no prospect of rehabilitation, none compliance with the Probation Service, and previous convictions.

Smyth was also ordered to pay £154 victim surcharge in full by November 7.

Magistrates took his guilty plea into consideration when imposing the sentence.

An order was also made for the defendant to be deprived of the kitchen knife.