A MAN who stripped off his shirt while holding a kitchen knife during an early morning disturbance in Leominster town centre has been jailed for 18 months.

Karl Yapp, who became upset when someone nudged a kebab from his grasp, escalated the violence when he left the scene and returned with the blade.

Yapp, 25, of St Guthlac Street, Portfields, Hereford, pleaded guilty to affray and to having a knife in a public place.

The court was shown CCTV footage of the incident but Yapp had burst into tears when he was shown it, said his barrister, John Dyer.

Since a conviction for robbery six years ago, Yapp had lead a virtually blame-less life, Mr Dyer added.

He was the father of one child but his ex-partner had refused him access now she had another partner.

Yapp had been drinking but someone had deliberately knocked the kebab out of his hands, Worcester Crown Court heard.

He had reacted strongly by fetching the knife but he had not caused any injury. He had been goaded on previous occasions.

People had gone into a nearby club and returned with what seemed a posse to take part in the disturbance. But no-one apart from Yapp had been prosecuted despite police appeals into the disturbance on November 7.

Mr Dyer said Yapp had the offer of a job if he retained his freedom. But Judge Nicolas Cartwright said the serious aspect of the incident was the taking of the knife into a public space. Yapp had been seen swiping at people although fortunately no blows had landed.

The judge said the immediate custody was meant as a deterrent to others rather than mere punishment.