A FATHER-OF-FOUR threatened a taxi driver with a knife while ‘completely smashed’.

Brent West, 25, admitted he had given the driver ‘pure abuse for nothing’ as he was dropped off after a party in Darwen.

A court was told that West, of Gordon Street, had drunk six litres of strong cider at the celebration, in Joseph Street, before taking a cab with his cousin to Olive Lane.

West got out of the car, driven by Shaun West, before pulling out the ‘large outdoor man’s knife’ and banging on the window.

Alex Orndal, prosecuting at Preston Crown Court, said Mr West had been left too scared to work in the evenings as a result of the attack.

He said: “Brent West was arrested and immediately made admissions to officers. In interview. he described himself as being completely smashed. He acknowledged he gave the taxi driver pure abuse for nothing.”

Judge Simon Newell was told Mr West was now looking for an alternative company to work for.

Anthony Parkinson, defending, said his client had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity to possession of a bladed article, using threatening or abusive words or behaviour, and being in breach of a conditional discharge.

He added: “He has come from something of a troubled background and has consumed alcohol from as early as 10 years of age. It is, of course, drink that is the catalyst behind this offence.

“He does not know where the knife came from. He believes it must have been from the house that the party was being held at.”

Judge Newell said the 10- month custodial sentence he was passing was ess-ential for security.

He told West: “One just does not know what would have happened, because you were out of control, if that taxi driver’s window was down.

“There is no doubt that drink is the root cause of all these problems. One has some sympathy for the pos-ition you are in, but I have to balance the situation between helping you, and making sure that security is kept safe.”