A KNIFEMAN who used a blade to threaten a man who had previously told police he had assaulted him was jailed.

Rhys Coughlin, 22, took the kitchen knife from his grandfather’s home then stood feet away from Phil Powell and said, “You are lucky to be standing there or I’ll put this in you”, a court heard.

Coughlin, of Waundeg, Nantybwch, Tredegar, was jailed for six months for knife possession and two months for using threatening words or behaviour, to run concurrently.

Judge Wyn Williams told Cardiff Crown Court Mr Powell must have felt “extremely vulnerable” when he produced the 3in knife in Waundeg on July 18 last year.

Prosecutor Jason Howells said Mr Powell had previously accused the defendant of having assaulted him but police took no further action in respect of the allegation. In mitigation, Jeffrey Jones, stressed his client had merely produced the knife rather than brandished it.

He added he had not advanced towards Mr Powell and stood around 10ft away from him.

Coughlin has committed more than 20 offences, including theft, fraud, cannabis possession and harassment.

But Mr Jones stressed his client had not previously committed offences of the type for which he was now in court and said they were “out of character”.

Coughlin pleaded guilty to the charges and was told he would have to serve half his six-month sentence and pay an £80 surcharge within three months of his release.