A man who brandished a lock knife on the streets of Rhyl was told his actions could have had “catastrophic consequences” as he was jailed for eight months.

Lee Ure was captured on CCTV embroiled in an argument with a group of drunken men in High Street.

He was seen walking backwards and getting out the weapon before he was chased down Vale Road.

Police were called out to Morrisons supermarket after an assault allegation was made against a woman and they found Ure in possession of the knife, said prosecuting barrister Jo Maxwell.

Mold Crown Court heard Ure had 16 previous convictions, including one in 1998 when he was a juvenile for the possession of a lock knife and another in 1999 for possession of a bladed article.

In 2003 he was sent to a young offenders’ institution for a firearms offence.

Ure, 36, of Victoria Road, Rhyl admitted possession of a bladed article on August 17 this year.

Defence barrister Dafydd Roberts urged that the minimum sentence was not imposed despite Ure’s previous offences as it would be unjust.

“No-one was physically harmed and he co-operated fully with the police,” said Mr Roberts, who added that Ure had relapsed into abusing alcohol.

“He has had a difficult upbringing, but he has not been in trouble since 2010.”

But Judge Niclas Parry told the defendant: “Knife crime has reached unprecedented levels in this country and it is just as prevalent in North Wales.

“The courts deal with cases of serious injury caused by knives.

“In your case you came across others under the influence of alcohol. It was a volatile situation, you produced a knife, you were chased and there could have been catastrophic consequences.”

And the judge added: “Knives in public places mean prison".