A man found with a knife in the toilets of a Huddersfield town centre pub said he was scared for his own safety.

Police were called to the Lord Wilson pub after the weapon was spotted in the waistband of Domonic Haggarty’s tracksuit bottoms.

Haggarty, of Shearings Cross Gardens, Fartown, claimed he had armed himself after being threatened by a gang.

The 24-year-old pleaded guilty possession of a bladed article in public.

Kirklees Magistrates’ Court heard that police were called to the King Street pub at just before 8pm on May 4.

Alex Bozman, prosecuting, said: “A member of staff made the call saying there was a man in the toilets and he had a knife with him.

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“Officers were directed there and he seemed to be nervous and agitated.

“A search was carried out and underneath his tracksuit bottoms belt a small black handled knife with a three-and-a-half inch blade was found.”

Haggarty was arrested and told police that he was of a nervous disposition.

He claimed that he had been involved in an incident earlier that day and taken the knife with him for his own peace of mind.

The Lord Wilson, King Street, Huddersfield.

Haggarty told police that he knew he had no excuse to carry it.

He said: “I live in Fartown and I got scared. There were some lads and I went home and got a knife. I’m sorry, I never thought of the severity of it.”

Mr Bob Carr added that Haggarty never produced the knife in public.

He told magistrates: “It was not waved about in the pub. He didn’t go out looking for the persons he was in fear of - he was out socialising.”

Magistrates sentenced Haggarty to a 26-week curfew as punishment.

He will have to remain indoors every Saturday night between 8pm and 7am.

Haggarty must also attend at a senior attendance centre for 24 days and pay £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge. The knife will be forfeited and destroyed.