Fleeing knife man hid blade in a planter in Wigan town centre

Bolton Crown Court heard that Mark Davies was drinking outside the John Bull Chop House on The Wiend on July 3 when Stewart Johnson mistakenly thought he had shouted at him.

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Prosecutors said Johnson walked towards him “aggressively”, put his hands on Mr Davies and was pushed away. Someone else then intervened.

A while later the victim went outside to smoke and the defendant was still there and threatened to “paste” him.

He was now armed with a knife which he swapped from hand to hand while threatening him before walking away.

Police arrested Johnson a short while later by the Grand Arcade and officers found the knife in a nearby flower planter. The blade had a cutting edge of more than three inches.

Johnson, 38, of Keble Grove, Leigh, pleaded guilty to threatening Mr Davies with a knife in such a way that there was an immediate risk of serious physical harm when he appeared before Wigan justices who then sent him to crown court for sentencing.

A separate offence of having a knife in a public place was withdrawn by the prosecution.

The judge gave him an eight-month prison sentence but suspended it for 24 months.

Johnson must also obey a three-month night-time curfew, was ordered to pay a £149 victim surcharge and the knife was forfeited for destruction.