A MAN convicted for carrying a knife in public for the fourth time in less than a decade has been jailed for two years.

Darren Ross Hall was found to be carrying a 5in serrated-bladed kitchen knife up his sleeve by police answering a call to a street in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, shortly after midnight on March 3.

Durham Crown Court heard the officers were responding to a report of two masked men carrying hammers, apparently trying to gain access to an old person’s bungalow.

When the officers reached the scene there was no response to knocks at the door of the bungalow, but then Hall was seen approaching the property.

Kevin Ross, prosecuting, said Hall told the officers he heard there might be “some bother” at the bungalow, the home of a friend’s father, and so he had the knife with him for protection.

He removed it from his right sleeve and placed it on the bonnet of the police car.

When he was arrested and questioned later at a police station, however, he did not respond.

But 28-year-old Hall, of Bruce Glazier Terrace, Shotton Colliery, admitted possessing a knife in public, when he appeared before magistrates a fortnight later.

Due to his record, which the court heard features 14 convictions for 27 offences, the magistrates committed the case to the crown court for sentence.

Mr Ross told the sentencing hearing Hall's previous convictions included three for carrying a knife in public, which included threatening a man when confronted about damage to a car and playfully threatening a neighbour with a knife when she invited him in for a drink.

In another incident, he claimed to have a knife with him "for self defence".

Peter Sabiston, mitigating, told the court: “He’s been before the courts on a number of occasions, and all have a background of alcohol and sometimes substance misuse.

“Although a number feature knife possession, at no point has a knife actually been used.

“He is aware there is a risk of serious injury to others or even himself just by carrying it, as the knife could be taken from him and used on him.”

Mr Sabiston said following his previous conviction Hall stopped carrying knives, until he was attacked, losing a tooth.

Jailing him, Judge Prince said the fact that it was Hall’s fourth such conviction was, “a serious aggravating feature of the case”.

He added: “You have demonstrated no willingness to stop carrying knives in public.

“It carries the potential for serious harm and in this case there was a potentially volatile situation.”

Judge Prince also ordered the destruction of the knife recovered from the latest incident.