A MAN who went to an acquaintance’s flat and threatened him with a Stanley knife has been jailed for four years and six months.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard that Craig Hooper, 22, initially came to the door of Stephen Smith’s flat in Ferndown with a friend at 9.30pm on November 13.

After a short time in the flat, they left, but Hooper returned to the flat on his own.

He walked straight past Mr Smith’s girlfriend, Louise Collins, took out the knife and said he was going to take the PlayStation 3.

The court heard that the pair were left scared and vulnerable and had no doubt Hooper would have used the knife if they had resisted.

Police later went to an address and recovered the knife, which had Hooper’s DNA on it.

A neighbour who had heard the police came out and said he had just been given a PS3.

After his arrest, Hooper made no comment when interviewed by the police.

The court heard that he was serving a four-month prison sentence for contempt of court after refusing to give evidence in a robbery trial at Southampton. Hooper, of no fixed abode, initially denied aggravated burglary, but changed his plea to guilty on the day his trial was due to start.

His lawyer Brian Sharman said Hooper, who went to school with his victim, accepted his actions had been irresponsible and stupid.

Judge Peter Johnson sentenced him to four and a half years for the aggravated burglary, six months for having a bladed article, and two months for breaching a conditional discharge for criminal damage, all to run concurrently.