A MAN who brandished a kitchen knife in public and began waving it around has been spared time in jail.

Grzegorz Symon Gondek, of Central Way near Warrington Central train station, was hauled before Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Monday after being charged with possession of a bladed article.

The incident happened on Cockhedge Way on June 2.

Polish-national Gondek first appeared before the court last month to entered a guilty plea.

The 23-year-old, who appeared without legal representation, was told that the offence was so serious that custody could not be avoided.

However, magistrates took his guilty plea into account when deciding to suspend his sentence.

Chair magistrate Smith sentenced Gondek to 12 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months.

The defendant was also ordered to complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and pay court costs of £213.

An order was granted for the forfeiture and destruction of the knife.