A HOMELESS man caught with a knife in Workington town centre has been given a 10-month jail term.
Philip Kyte, 30, was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court by a judge for what was his ninth such crime in just over four years.
Police approached Kyte as he was stood in a shop doorway at Campbell-Savours Way in Workington at around 4-30am on April 21.
Kyte initially claimed not to be in possession of any knives or items he shouldn’t have. But on learning his bag would be searched, he stated: “There might be sharps in there. I carry it for protection.”
The court heard how, dating back to early 2015, Kyte, of no fixed address, had been in possession of knives or offensive weapons in public on eight previous occasions.
He had served a number of prison sentences, his latest brush with the law occurring only days after his release from custody.
He was jailed again, by Recorder Ahmed Nadim. The judge heard how contact had recently been established with Kyte’s estranged father, who had indicated he would consider providing accommodation to his son when he left prison.