A ‘REMORSEFUL’ man who was under licence has been sentenced to six months in prison for carrying a Stanley knife.

Leon James Banning, 26, of Hobbs Court, Rooksdown, appeared at Winchester Crown Court for sentencing on Friday after pleading guilty to one count each of criminal damage, sending malicious communication and carrying a bladed article at an earlier hearing.

On April 13 this year, a dispute with Banning’s then-partner ended with him punching and smashing his mother’s TV, the court heard

Prosecutor Charles Parry told the court the next day when police visited the property Banning fled and dropped a Stanley knife.

The court also heard for a period of time Banning was reacting to text messages from an ex-partner making threats to burn down her house, with one message saying “don’t leave your house unattended because it will be like a fireworks display.”

Defending Banning, Philip McCann said his client was responding to messages sent to him and “there was clearly animosity there”. Mr McCann also told the court Banning was diagnosed with ADHD as a youngster but when he turned 18 he was taken off of medication.

He said: “Since his time in custody he has made good use of his time finding a construction course and looking into being assessed for adult ADHD.”

In sentencing, Judge Alastair Malcolm QC said that even though Banning had shown remorse, carrying a blade was a serious offence. He said: “As you know carrying a knife can sometimes result and lead to the death of a person.”

For possession of the knife, Banning was sentenced to six months in jail with a month concurrent for the criminal damage offence.

Over the text messages Judge Malcolm said: “Even though you may have been responding to messages, what you did is a very serious offence and can be terrifying for the recipient.”

Banning was sentenced to a further two months to run consecutively giving an overall sentence of eight months.