An ex-Tesco worker who brandished a knife with a six-inch blade after a row has kept his freedom.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Joshua Spencer, 21, had produced the weapon, ‘a kitchen knife’, and waved it about when a drinking partner’s girlfriend had gone towards him.

The woman was pulled back into the house and Spencer was disarmed.

He then ran off, but was chased and detained.

Spencer, who had no previous convictions, had admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour and having a knife in a public place on March 24, and had been committed for sentence by Pennine magistrates.

The defendant, of Staghills Road, Newchurch, received a six-month jail term, suspended for a year, with 24 hours at an attendance centre.

He was also given a three-month 9pm to 6am curfew on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and must pay £200 costs.

Judge Jonathan Gibson said taking out and brandishing a knife was extremely dangerous behaviour and normally resulted in jail.