A DRUNKEN man who threatened a shop security guard with a knife has been give a second chance.

Thomas Smith was 'unsteady on his feet' when entered the Tesco on Acklam Road, Middlesbrough, at 11.20pm on October 2, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The 19-year-old, of Dallas Court, Hemlington, attempted to pull his hood across his face as he threatened to stab the security guard.

Harry Hadfield, prosecuting, said: "A man working on the till saw what was happening, the defendant was pulling the hood across his face and he told the security guard he was going to stab him.

"Understandably, the security guard thought that he was going to be stabbed."

Smith was arrested not long after he fled the scene but the knife he was brandishing was never recovered.

He pleaded guilty to possession of an article with a pointed blade.

Conor Quinn, mitigating, told the court that Smith had severe learning difficulties and had behaved 'out-of-character' when he threatened the security guard and urged the judge not to jail him.

Judge Peter Armstrong sentenced him to a 12-month community order with 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days to address his behaviour.

He was also ordered to adhere to a tagged curfew between 10pm and 7am for three months.