Man jailed for pulling seven-inch knife on police

Police said they drew a taser after O'Reilly lunged at an officer, prompting him to throw the weapon in a nearby bush

A man who pulled a knife on a police officer and headbutted another while in custody has been jailed for six months.

Cambridgeshire Police said they spotted Paul O'Reilly "acting suspiciously" on Waterslade Road in Yaxley, near Peterborough, on 6 February.

When they approached the 34-year-old, officers said he pulled out a seven-inch (17cm) knife and lunged in the direction of one of them.

At Peterborough Magistrates' Court, O'Reilly, of Oundle Road in Peterborough, admitted possessing a knife in a public place, using threatening behaviour with intent to cause fear and assault by beating an emergency worker.

PC Dylan Donaldson said there was "no excuse" for carrying a knife and the case demonstrated how an incident could escalate when a weapon was involved.

"Officers put themselves in harm's way every day to keep the public safe," he said.

"I hope this sentence sends a clear message that weapons and violence won't be tolerated in Cambridgeshire."