A KNIFEMAN who tried to hide the weapon from police by posting it though a letter box after a midnight fight has been jailed for 168 days.

Burnley Magistrates Court heard how father-of-four Gordon Joseph Walker, 34, had had the knife whilst subject to a conditional discharge for possessing a 12 inch Samurai sword.

Walker, a former "career criminal" with 126 previous convictions had claimed he had confiscated the sword off someone and that he had found the knife and was putting it out of harm's way.

District Judge Peter Ward said the defendant could not really expect less than the jail term he was imposing.

He added: "It makes you all the more a danger to people that you behave the way you did and at the same time are in possession of something like this."

Walker, of Cambridge Street, Brierfield, had earlier admitted police obstruction on June 18 and had been convicted after a trial of possessing a knife blade on the same date.

Carl Gaffney, prosecuting, told the court just after midnight police were called to a fight where it was reported one person involved may have a knife. Their attention was drawn to Walker. There was no suggestion he had brandished a knife towards anyone.

The defendant moved away from the group, causing police to believe he was the one with the knife. He refused to stop and was seen to try and post a large knife through a letterbox. It was half in and half out of the box and Walker had dumped it in a bid to avoid detection.

Mr Gaffney said officers stopped him but he then resisted arrest and threatened officers.

The prosecutor said Walker was questioned and claimed he was putting the knife away from harm.

Kevin Preston, defending, said Walker knew he was in jeopardy and had brought his belongings to court.