His outfit was meant to be a bit of fun for Halloween.

Patryk Sochacki donned a ‘Scream’ mask but then used a real knife to complete his look from the horror film.

But his appearance as he walked through Huddersfield town centre caused a group of girls to flag down police in terror.

And magistrates failed to see the funny side when they handed the 21-year-old a suspended jail term – despite his vow to use a fake knife next year.

Sochacki, of York Avenue in Fartown, today pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article in public.

Sochacki, also dressed in jeans with a vest top covered in fake blood, was witnessed just before midnight on October 31.

Police in a patrol car on Great Northern Street were stopped by a group of three young women.

Vanessa Jones, prosecuting, told Kirklees magistrates: “They appeared to be in a state of panic. They intimated that a male was walking up the road and had a knife.”

Mrs Jones added that the women, who did not speak English, ran their fingers across their throats to indicate that Sochacki had a knife with him.

He had the 12ins kitchen knife in his belt buckle which police removed from him after placing him in handcuffs for their safety.

Patryk Sochacki outside Kirklees Magistrates' Court
Patryk Sochacki outside Kirklees Magistrates' Court

Mrs Jones said: “The defendant explained to the officers that it was part of his Halloween costume. He was surprised that the women who had seen it were scared.

“As far as he was concerned it was part of the Halloween thing and he didn’t realise it was a criminal offence.”

The court heard that Sochacki had no convictions prior to the incident.

Paul Blanchard, mitigating, said: “He went out with the expectation of having some fun, but in this current climate this isn’t.

“I had to explain to Mr Sochacki that a Halloween costume could not be a legitimate reason for having in his possession an item of this nature.

“This gentleman’s ignorance has gotten him into a significant amount of trouble. He deeply regrets his stupid decision to take the item out with him that night.

“His response to police was: ‘Next year I will use a plastic knife’.”

Mr Blanchard told magistrates that the knife was not used to cause violence or fear of it.

Magistrates sentenced Sochacki to an eight-week jail term, suspended for a year.

He must pay £85 court costs and the knife will be destroyed.