A Southampton man stabbed a wheelie bin after a row broke out in the street.

David Bull, 40, armed himself with what was described as a “nine-inch carving knife” after arguing with a man.

At the end of the argument, Bull went into his home and grabbed the weapon, Southampton Crown Court heard.

He then came out and stabbed a wheelie bin with it.

Bull was later arrested but no knife was ever seized.

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Bull told officers he was still angry and had armed himself with the knife “because he thought that the complainant might be reaching for a weapon”, prosecutor Richard Mandel said.

Mr Mandel added that he had not been followed into the home and that “this was an offence committed in circumstances where there was a risk of serious disorder”.

Referring to photos from the weekend’s Notting Hill Carnival, Recorder Don Tait said: “Possessing a knife in public is back in the public eye again.

“The statistics in relation to knife crime are going through the roof.

“This sort of conduct cannot be tolerated.”

But mitigating, Lucy Taylor said there is “no suggestion that Mr Bull waved this knife around or went for the complainant”.

She told the court it was "just a normal kitchen knife".

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Bull, of Henry Road, Southampton pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a bladed article in a public place.

In July, he was cleared by a jury of a further charge of assault occasioning actual bodily.

The incident took place on August 20, 2021 between Edward Road and Foundry Lane.

Ms Taylor said her client “knows he made a very stupid decision that day”, describing it as “an extreme lapse of judgement”.

She added that he was “pretty much down and out about his life” but has since secured employment and wishes to go on to drive HGVs and forklifts.

Bull was given a 12-month sentence suspended for two years.

He must complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days, 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £425 in court costs.

Recorder Tait said there was a “realistic prospect of rehabilitation” and that the defendant had been “working very hard”.