A MAN was caught walking around Toton with a meat cleaver down his trousers in the early hours, a court heard.
Alan Pendreigh, who has a drink problem, was arrested as he walked to buy booze from Tesco on January 11 this year.
Police had been investigating a burglary in Spinney Rise, Toton, when they saw Pendreigh walking along just after 3am.
They spoke with him in Stapleford Lane, Toton, about where he was going, Nottingham Crown Court heard.
They searched him and found the meat cleaver, which had a 16-centimetre blade, concealed in his waistband. "His speech was slurred and he was intoxicated," said prosecutor Sue Matthews.
Pendreigh, 26, of Hopkinson Court, Bestwood Village, took the weapon with him for protection as he set out to buy more booze from Tesco, the court was told.
He was arrested and charged with possessing an offensive weapon.
He was convicted at Nottingham Magistrates' Court and sent to the crown court for sentencing.
The judge, Recorder Tina Landale, said: "The weapon you went out with is absolutely terrifying and potentially could have been lethal.
She gave him a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with supervision from the probation service for 12 months and £300 costs to pay.
The court heard Pendreigh had previous convictions for burglary, criminal damage, battery, disorderly conduct, producing cannabis and for stealing booze.