Man seen brandishing knife in Bexhill during argument

James Danks, 32, of Turkey Road, Bexhill, lost his temper after he accused his friend of stealing a money jar from his house containing 600.

At a court hearing on Monday prosecutor Kevin Thompson said: "Police received several calls that a few men were acting aggressively outside Lidl in Ninfield Road.

"One of the men in the group was holding a knife in his right hand and was gesturing towards the rest of the group.

"A witness heard the defendant shouting at one of the men saying he was going to slit his throat. He was also seen chasing another man."

Police arrived and carried out a search on Danks but no knife was found in his possession.

They found it nearby underneath a car.

Mr Thompson said: "The defendant admitted being in possession of the knife and said he had been out drinking with friends. He said he later realised that a money jar containing 600 had disappeared from his house and thought one of his friends had taken it."

Danks told officers he could not remember waving the kitchen knife about and said he threw it underneath a car once he found out police had been called.

He appeared before Hastings magistrates in court on Monday and pleaded guilty to possessing the knife and causing a fear of violence through his behaviour.

Kim Goodall, defending, asked magistrates to adjourn the case so pre-sentence reports could be drawn up.

They agreed and put off the case until March 30.