A BINGE drinker who armed himself with two knives during a street disturbance has been jailed for ten months.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Anthony Johnson was confronted by two men after being accused of tampering with a caravan in Stokesley, North Yorkshire.

The 27-year-old began shouting abuse and tried to hit one of the men with a beer bottle and also a curtain pole he picked up.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said the defendant was disarmed and the complainants walked back to their vehicle.

But then Johnson advanced towards them with two knives shouting: “I am going to stab you.”

Police were called and Johnson, who was threatened with CS spray, was arrested.

He said of the incident, at about 11.30pm on December 27 last year, that he had drank a large amount of alcohol and it was he who had been threatened.

Tom Mitchell, mitigating, said Johnson, of Sowerby Crescent, Stokesley, was a binge drinker and cannabis smoker and frequently carried a knife because of drug induced paranoia. He also suffered from depression.

He said no-one had been hurt during the fracas, although Johnson, who pleaded guilty to affray, received a "crack around the head" for his trouble.

Judge Sean Morris told Johnson: “You must understand that if you carry knives it is dangerous especially if you get some drink on board and act stupidly.”

Before being jailed Johnson said from the dock: “I am not a violent person and probably would not have done owt.”