A man was caught with a knife for the eighth time - claiming he needed protection from drug dealers.
Lee Davis got a six-month prison sentence when brought before city magistrates and admitted having a Stanley knife on Friday.
Leanne Townsend, prosecuting, said there is a minimum sentence of six months if people are convicted of two offences of having knives in public.
"This is his eighth offence and the fifth in four months," she said. He first broke knife crime laws in 2001, she told the court.
He was seen on Burton Street at 6.30pm by an officer "who suspected he was carrying a knife".
Miss Townsend added: "He was searched and in his jacket pocket was a Stanley knife with an extending blade.
"He said it had been in his possession for some time because he was getting grief and abuse and needed it for his own protection."
Davis said another officer had stopped him earlier in the day and told him to take the knife immediately to his home in Lavender Walk, St Ann's. Davis, 37, said he forgot, added Miss Townsend.
Julia Haywood, mitigating, said: "Mr Davis has been used by drug dealers in St Ann's and he is vulnerable.
"His address has been taken over for their use. He was carrying the weapon for his own protection.
"He is in fear for his own safety," said Miss Haywood.
Presiding magistrate Jennifer Wood, who sat with two other JPs, ordered him to pay a government surcharge of £115.
She told Davis: "We order the destruction of the knife. You are not going to get it back and that is not a bad thing."
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