A MAN who brandished a knife in front of a bus driver was jailed for 24 weeks.

Elliott Elwart, 23, pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in a public place, in breach of a nine month suspended prison term he was issued in May last year after breaking a man’s jaw.

Judge Roger Jarvis said he wanted to send out a public message that “if people are out and about with knives in public places they will go to prison”.

Prosecutor Heather Shimmen told Bournemouth Crown Court that in the early hours of Saturday, March 9, Elwart boarded a bus from Poole with a friend.

She said the pair had been drinking and the defendant’s friend had stepped in front of the bus to stop it.

Elwart apologised to the bus driver before sitting down.

When they reached Charminster Road Elwart got off, however his friend argued with the bus driver while the defendant tried to call him outside.

Ms Shimmen said Elwart then got on the bus and brandished a knife in an effort to extract his friend, after which they departed and were soon arrested.

Defending Elwart, who lives in Wollaton Road, Ferndown, Robert Grey said he was deeply ashamed and “accepted his behaviour was reckless and irresponsible”.

Judge Jarvis said: “It is plain that the public is very concerned when they learn about the presence of knives in public places.

“It is usually, though not always, young men in drink, and sometimes has tragic results.

“It needs little imagination to appreciate how disturbing and frightening this would have been for the driver.”

The defendant was last before the courts in May last year after breaking Benjamin Sherrard-Smith’s jaw by punching him repeatedly in Bournemouth town centre.

The incident, in November 2011, left the trainee pilot needing surgery. Judge Samuel Wiggs imposed a nine month prison sentence, suspended for two years.