A FORMER soldier who was spotted with a craft knife outside a Leigh pub told police he was carrying it for protection.

William Baines, who served in Afghanistan, said that after leaving the Army he had formed a relationship with a young woman and her former boyfriend was after him.

"I had a knife, I always carry it. When you are done with me I will again," he said.

He told the custody sergeant: "When I get out of here I will get another knife and carry that. I carry a knife for a purpose, someone is after me. I would rather stab them before they pull a knife on me."

William Beardmore, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court today, Monday, that Baines also told the officer that he was prepared to get a gun to shoot that person.

Baines, aged 24, of Elliott Street, Tyldesley, pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article.

Mr Beardmore said that the incident happened in the early hours of May 27 this year after Baines had been in the Waterside Inn.

He was talking to doormen and then saw him move a craft knife from one pocket to another and they called the police.

Imposing a four-month jail sentence, suspended for two years Judge Robert Warnock said: "You have come out of the Army having served in Afghanistan and I suspect, although no one told me, that you have found coming back into civilian life fairly difficult."

He added that Baines had taken to drinking to a ‘wholly unacceptable level’ and when arrested had been drinking and was talking ‘rubbish’.

After his arrest he was remanded in custody and the judge said that he hoped that had come as a shock to him.

"You know how seriously the courts consider these offences, we see the results of attacks with knives, it is horrendous."

Judge Warnock also ordered Baines to carry out 200 hours unpaid work and pay an £80 victim surcharge. He warned him that if he breaches the court orders he will go to jail.