Bristol man brandished knife in car row

A Bristol man who brandished a blade at someone he accused of damaging his car has been handed a year's community order.

Calvin Wright was seen to threaten a man outside the Inkerman pub in Portland Square, Bristol Crown Court heard yesterday.

Wright, 47, of Brighton Street, St Paul's, pleaded guilty to affray following the incident on February 13.

Judge Michael Roach told him: "The Crown does not challenge you used the knife simply to frighten.

"It is obvious that this is, nonetheless, a serious offence."

The judge told Wright to abide by a two-month curfew in which he must stay at home on electronic tag between 8pm and 7am.

Wright was also ordered to pay £250 prosecution costs.

Ramin Pakrooh, prosecuting, said witnesses and police saw a commotion outside the pub.

One witness said they saw Wright produce a knife and move it towards a man on a bicycle, as if he was going to stab him, the court heard.

Mr Pakrooh said the cyclist was seen to fall to the ground and, as Wright made the stabbing motions, police asked him to put the blade down. With that a man said "run" and Wright bolted to his flat, discarding the knife.

He was arrested and largely made no comment when interviewed, the court was told. The cyclist rode off and was not tracked down.

David Maunder, defending, told the court: "The defendant is no fool. He is not a habitual criminal, either.

"He knows full well the seriousness in which this court treats offences where there is even a suggestion a knife is used to threaten others. He is conscious of that and he is frightened of that."

Mr Maunder said his client, who had expressed remorse, accepted his actions had been stupid. He said that, having found his car damaged, Wright over-reacted and challenged the person he was led to believe – wrongly – was responsible.

Mr Maunder said his client had been in the process of obtaining a taxi driver's licence and that had heightened his frustration at the time.