A Suffolk man who was arrested after he was seen leaving a store with a knife in the back of his trousers has been jailed for eight months.

Police officers went to St Olaves Parade in Bury St Edmunds on May 29 after receiving a call from someone who saw the knife, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Before the court was Pascal Hepp Stronza, 35, of Boby Road, Bury St Edmunds who admitted having a knife in a public place.

Joanne Eley, prosecuting said that after leaving the Spa shop the defendant had stood behind a tree and was arrested by police.

When the area near the tree was searched a red kitchen knife was found, said Miss Eley.

The court heard that Stronza had a previous conviction for having a knife in a public place in 2017 and had been jailed for eight weeks.

Jonathan Hasson for Stronza said his client had been using the knife to repair his washing machine and had forgotten it was in the back of his trousers when he went to the nearby Spa shop.

He said there was no evidence that Stronza used the knife to threaten anyone.