Failed asylum seeker Eric Habyarimana had his home burn down, waved a knife at police trying to help and ended up in prison for six months, a court heard.

Habyarimana had been living in a tent in Riverside Walk, St Anne's Park, after being evicted from his Easton flat, Bristol Crown Court was told.

When police community support officer Paul Caines found the tent on fire and extinguished the flames, Habyarimana brandished a kitchen knife and was sprayed with CS gas before being arrested.

Habyarimana, 30, pleaded guilty to possessing a blade and threatening behaviour.

Imposing sentence Judge Michael Roach told him: "I have no option but to impose a custodial sentence."

The judge said that if the Home Office decided to remove Habyarimana from the UK it might be in his best interests. He ordered that the blade used in the incident be destroyed.

Edward Hetherington, prosecuting, said Habyarimana produced the knife from a carrier bag and waved it furiously at PCSO Caines. Other officers were called to the scene, but though they commanded: "Police, stop still!" the armed man carried on waving the knife and was CS-gassed into submission.

Habyarimana had a previous conviction for an immigration offence last year, the court heard.

David Martin, defending, said Habyarimana was aged 12 when he came from Rwanda to the UK.

Having lived in London and studied English at college, he then came to Bristol.

Mr Martin said: "He heard there was work and he signed on with an agency. Most recently he had warehouse work, but the agency work came to an end and he was homeless after his landlord in Easton threw his stuff out."

Mr Martin said his client had been abandoned.

He told the court: "He has no asylum status; he applied for asylum in 1999 and was refused.

"He has no leave to stay and has been in England illegally.

"This occasion is the only occasion he has displayed aggression.

"He lives a feral existence because there's no existence other to that."