A BARE-CHESTED man who led police in a late-night chase through Barrow town centre while brandishing a knife has avoided jail.

Cameron James Casson, 24, was charged with carrying a blade in a public place after took a kitchen knife from Marmaris Grill takeaway on Duke Street before heading onto Cavendish Street in the early hours of September 22.

He pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared before the bench at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court.

Appearing for sentence at Preston Crown Court, he was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.

Prosecutor Diane Jackson previously told magistrates how the night unfolded for the defendant, of Town Head in Haverigg.

She said: "He's gone into a takeaway appearing confused and agitated, where he was given a glass of water.

"He's then picked up a knife from the premises and left.

"Officers were called and saw the defendant with the knife.

"He was bare-chested and running through the area towards crowds of people."

He was said to have been chased by police on foot towards Dalton Road before dropping the knife outside the Preston Street Working Mens Club.

Police caught up with Casson and eventually arrested him on Portland Walk.

Defence solicitor Michael Graham agreed the offence was too serious to be sentenced at magistrates' court.

The court was told the defendant was on post-sentence supervision at the time for a previous offence.