A KNIFE-wielding motorist who waved a blade at a shocked family during a town centre road rage incident has been jailed.

Jamie Ian Waddington, 25, was given an eight-month prison sentence at Carlisle Crown Court yesterday.

Waddington, of Willowside Park, Haverigg had admitted driving a Ford Focus without due care and attention on the A590 at Newby Bridge; having a bladed article; and not having insurance for another vehicle.

Mr Michael Blakey, prosecuting, said police saw the Focus swerving and weaving from side-to-side across the A590, at around 8.15pm on February 28.

The officer attempted to pass but was prevented from doing so. Waddington opened a window and "stuck his finger up at the officer", said Mr Blakey.

Earlier that evening, the Focus was seen in central Kendal by other motorists - a couple and their 17-year-old daughter.

Waddington produced a knife, around five to six inches long, which he pointed at the family.

A short time later, the Focus braked hard behind the family's vehicle. Waddington sounded the horn and flashed the lights.

"The defendant pulled alongside the car, and wound the window down," said Mr Blakey.

"The daughter started screaming 'he has got a knife; don't get out of the car, dad'. He had his hand out of the window, producing the knife."

Waddington was arrested the following morning. The court heard Waddington had "no recollection of waving the knife at anyone". He had suffered personal problems and was in a "significantly poor state" at the time of the offences.

Mr Brendan Burke, defending, conceded Waddington had gone "off the rails". But he insisted that troubled chapter was now "closed", and he had since sought to change his ways following the "out-of-character" offences.

However, Judge Peter Davies took a dim view of the knife crime, saying: "People must know that they mustn't have knives and mustn't use them."