A 44-year-old Gloucester man who brandished a knife in a takeaway full of waiting customers has been jailed for a year.

Gloucester Crown Court heard on Friday (June 25) that Carl Douglas entered the Chicken Feast shop in Tredworth High Street at around 1.30pm on December 19th 2019 and became 'increasingly agitated.'

Lucy Stoker, prosecuting, said: "He was in an agitated state in the shop while he was waiting for his order and he chose to behave in a hostile manner towards the member of staff behind the counter.

"He then produced a flat handled four inch kitchen knife - at which point three customers moved immediately away from him while another, Trevor Brown, tried to talk to him.

"Mr Brown said to Douglas 'Look, what's the matter Carl? It's time to calm down', while the three others members of the public looked on."

When Mr Brown then walked out into the street Douglas followed him, still waving the knife, said the prosecvutor. She said they exchanged words while standing a few apart and then went off in their separate directions.

Armed police arrived on the scene within seconds and arrested Douglas after he tried to dispose of the knife in a doorway, said the prosecutor.

Just three days before the incident Douglas had appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates Court for five offences, one of which included threatening behaviour, and he had received a suspended 16-week prison sentence, Ms Stoker added.

James McKenna, defending, said Douglas admitted brandishing the knife in the chip shop and having it with him when he went into the street.

"The shop's customers moved away from Douglas when he revealed the knife in the takeaway and he still had it in his hand when he followed Trevor Brown out into the street," the lawyer said.

"I am sure these people would have been scared by this as can be seen by the CCTV as they reacted very quickly.

"Fortunately the incident didn't escalate any further after the pair of them exchanged words in the street and walked away.

"Both of Douglas' suspended sentences have since expired, but were still current when the offence was committed.

"The pre-sentence report on him suggests that there is an alternative to custody as he is not the man he was over two-and-a-half years ago, a time when he was suffering from a number of mental health issues and was not taking his medication.

"He has since received treatment for these conditions and has moved on with his life.

"However he does have a previous knife offence and he could be classed as a second striker, but this offence dates back some 30 months and I would feel that it would be unjust to activate this element of his offending.

"He has not offended since that date and he has put this type of behaviour behind him."

Douglas, of Matson Avenue, Gloucester, pleaded guilty to having a bladed article in public place on December 19, 2019.

The judge, Recorder Richard Mawhinney, told Douglas: "You brandished a knife in a shop and in the street. This occurred just three days after appearing in court and being sentenced to a suspended prison term. You also tried to dispose of the knife just prior to your arrest.

"Your record suggests you are a danger to the public and therefore only a custodial sentence is justified. I feel that I am unable to suspend it, even with the passage of time between your offending and today's hearing."

The judge sentenced Douglas to 12 months in prison and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £149. He also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the knife.