A MAN who threatened to stab an acquaintance with a carving knife at his home has been spared jail.

Mathew Williams, 33, had previously been sentenced for battery, criminal damage and being drunk and disorderly, a court heard..

Williams thought of going to the home of David Rogers in Newport with a dog but chose the carving knife as he felt it would be more threatening, Newport Crown Court heard.

Newport Judge David Williams gave him a 16-week custodial sentence, suspended for a year, and 150 hours community service.

The defendant turned up at the address in Goossens Close armed with the carving knife on June 4, the court was told.

Mr Rogers was left "distressed" and "upset" by the incident, though the weapon was concealed in his pocket, Crown prosecutor Jason Howells told the court.

The pair had previously had altercations, the court heard.

Williams was arrested at his home address in Hendre Farm Drive in Newport the following day, the court was told.

He pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words and behaviour and possessing a bladed instrument at an earlier hearing on June 17.

Mr Howells said it was a choice between going to Mr Rogers' address with a dog or a knife but he felt the blade would be more threatening.

Hugh Wallace, for the defence, said it was "absolutely essential" that his client receives help from the probation service.

Newport Judge Daniel Williams told the court the offences were sufficiently serious a sentence of imprisonment was appropriate, but stressed he was minded to suspend the prison term.

He gave Williams 16 weeks for possessing a blade instrument and eight weeks for using threatening words or behaviour, to be served concurrently.

Williams will have to complete the unpaid work in the next 12 months, complete a thinking skills programme and will be supervised by the probation service.

Judge Williams also ordered the defendant to pay an £80 surcharge within the next three months.