A man armed with a knife in Alveston has been handed a suspended jail term.
Matthew Iles was seen with the blade outside the Premier store in August, Bristol Crown Court heard.
But rather than the public being distressed, he was perceived to be "a joke rather than a risk".
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Iles, 49, of Down Road, Alveston, pleaded guilty to possessing a blade.
Judge William Hart handed him a six months jail term, suspended for two years.
Iles was also given a six-month drug rehabilitation order and up to 25 days of rehabilitation activity.
A knife recovered from him was destroyed.
Lana Murphy, prosecuting, said Iles was seen with a knife outside Premier around 4.55pm.
He told one onlooker: "What are you staring at?
"I'll drag you out of your car and beat you up."
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Iles was also seen with a blade when he talked to some people in a van, the court heard.
Police called to the scene located him, unsteady on his feet and with a can of alcohol.
He was arrested and made no comment when interviewed.
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The court heard he had previous convictions for possessing a blade.
Katie Jenkins, defending, said her client would lose his accommodation of he was sent into prison.
Miss Jenkins said people who observed him did not seem to be overly threatened.
She told the court: "He appeared to them as a joke rather than a risk."
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