A WINSFORD man has avoided jail despite taking a 'lethal weapon' to a bar in the town and threatening violence.

Stephen McKie, of Caldy Way, appeared at Crewe Magistrates Court on October 1 to be sentenced on two charges.

The court heard the 53-year-old was found at Bar No. 4, in Delamere Street, on July 31 last year, with a kitchen knife.

McKie also used threatening behaviour with intent to cause people to believe immediate unlawful violence would be used against them.

Appearing at court on February 27 earlier this year, McKie admitted being in possession of a blade in a public place, but he initially denied a charge of using threatening behaviour to cause fear of violence.

Returning to the dock on July 29, McKie changed his plea for this charge to guilty.

At the sentencing hearing, Crewe magistrates jailed him for a total of six months, but suspended the term for two years.

The court heard only a custodial sentence could be justified due to the seriousness of the offence and the fact McKie had been in possession of a 'lethal weapon which put the public at risk of harm'.

But it was also heard magistrates felt the sentence could be suspended due to there being a 'likely prospect of rehabilitation' if the the defendant addressed alcohol misuse with the Probation Service.

Magistrates ordered McKie to pay £400 in court costs to the Crown Prosecution Service after his late guilty plea.