A CONCERNED mother called the police after her son left the house with a kitchen knife to have a confrontation at a pub, a court heard.

Callum Oakes said he was taking the blade with him following threats on social media but turned back before reaching the pub, magistrates were told.

The 21-year-old Barrow man avoided immediate jail time after he admitted possession of a knife at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre said police were called out just before 8pm on March 13.

He told the court: "The mother has phoned to raise concern that the defendant had left the house with a knife and was heading to a public house to a have a confrontation with another male.

"He did return to the house with the knife."

The court heard the defendant admitted he had been in possession of the knife over the phone to police.

Mitigating, Michael Graham said there would have been no case without Oakes admitting to officers he had the knife.

"By the time police arrived he had the knife back in the drawer," said Mr Graham.

"There's no person seeing him or him being approached while in possession of the knife.

"If he had said nothing when they arrived there would have been no case to answer."

He added: "It seems he made an error in his decision to take the knife.

"Shortly afterwards he realised he shouldn't have been doing what he was doing and returned to the house.

"He didn't injure anyone with it. He realised the error of his ways.

"He explained to the police what he had done and why he had done it.

"It's the first offence of its type the defendant has committed. He's been very cooperative throughout and hasn't prevaricated."

Magistrates sentenced Oakes, of Duke Street, to 12 weeks in prison - suspended for 12 months.

He was ordered to carry out 50 hours of unpaid work and complete 10 rehabilitation days.

The court ordered the knife to be forfeited and destroyed.