A TAXI driver who spotted a 21-year-old Barrow man brandishing an eight-inch kitchen knife in the street described him as "going barmy."

Keanu Rhys Logan admitted the offence and possession of cannabis which he claimed "fell out of the sky" when he appeared before Furness Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Prosecutor Mr Andrew Travis explained: "A taxi driver was returning to his taxi office on Church Street when he saw a young man going barmy in the street. The defendant had a large kitchen knife in one hand and was waving it around before putting it down the back of his trousers. 

"He called the police and went into the office where he observed the defendant leave and then return a few minutes later. The police arrived and he was searched but no knife was found. They said he was highly intoxicated and behaving erratically. Police searched the area and found a large kitchen knife under a car on Mount Pleasant.

"He told police in interview he was being chased by a taxi driver and had seen the knife in a garden and picked it up as he wasn't sure if he was still being chased. He ran about 20 steps with it, then out down his trousers and then realised what he was doing and hid the knife under a car.

"He also admitted possessing cannabis on an earlier date and told police it fell out of the sky."

Logan, of Vulcan Road, pleaded guilty to possession of an eight-inch kitchen knife in a public on April 22 and possession of a class B drug on April 16.

Mr Michael Graham defending offered no mitigation at this stage. He advised magistrates that this was his client's third like offence and the case should go to the crown court.

The bench agreed and asked for a full pre-sentence report to be prepared and adjourned the case until June 10 at Preston Crown Court.

Logan was released on unconditional bail until that date.