A MAN who told police he carried a craft knife to protect himself has been spared further time in jail after a judge heard he had already spent 44 days in custody.

Police officers saw Jamie Owens, 25, "bouncing" in the middle of the road in Westbourne Grove, Middlesbrough, on July 20, with his arms raised to chest height, gesticulating aggressively towards two men and swearing.

It appeared he had a knife with a yellow handle in his hand, which he threw away into a garden.

Owens was arrested and bailed, but two days later he was stopped and searched and again found to be carrying a knife.

The defendant claimed hehad a three-year feud with anotherman who had confronted him and challenged him to a fight.

He said he carried a knife for his own protection, but said he would only use it to scare somebody.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the father-oftwo and his family had been victims of anti-social behaviour and harassment and, as a result, his parents and partner had now moved out of Middlesbrough.

Owens, of Benedict Street, Middlesbrough, admitted possessing a bladed article.

The court was told how he had learned a "valuable" lesson, having spent 44 days in custody as a result of the charges against him.

He now wanted to be a responsible parent to his children.

Sentencing him, Judge Peter Bowers said the defendant would not have enjoyed his first taste of custody and being away from his family.

The judge said Owens had been "particularly stupid" before handing him a 12-month community order with supervision from the Probation Service.

He was also ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £200 court costs.