A CWMBRAN man who waved a five inch Gurkha cooking knife at a group of people 'in a threatening manner' has avoided jail.

Alexander Keating, of Kidwelly Road, retrieved the ornamental silver-handled blade from his car after someone threw a cup of coffee over his brother during a meet-up in Earls Mede in Cwmbran.

Today Keating, 29, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court and was given a six month prison sentence suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to undertake 180 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £240.

Keating had pleaded guilty on August 26.

Prosecution barrister Meirion Davies told the court Keating had accompanied his brother on a trip to visit his brother’s girlfriend’s family on June 18 this year.

Keating’s brother had been asked to make the visit to talk about accusations he had been cheating on his girlfriend. Keating claimed he went along for support.

While at the meet-up in Earls Mede at around 6pm, a discussion began between the group and someone threw a cup of coffee over Keating.

Keating went to his car and pulled out the knife, which he had removed from the fireplace mantelpiece where it was kept at home.

Later that night police found Keating in Llanyravon and arrested him.

Nigel Fryer, defending, said: “It was a moment of madness. He expresses his remorse.

“At the age of 29 he has never been in trouble before. The letters of character reference speak very, very highly of him and he has a long and established employment history with a company.”

But Judge Aubrey said: “You should never have had it with you in the first place. You should never have produced it no matter the provocation or any fear.

“I accept you are remorseful. You know the great strain this has put on your family.”