A MAN who was armed with an eight-inch kitchen knife during an argument in Rowley Regis has been given a four month jail term suspended for two years.

A woman living in Throne Road saw Terrelle White wielding the weapon as he got involved in the row after complaining a motorist came close to knocking him down.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court, Recorder Andrew Sprawson said it was clear White was extremely angry and he reacted after maintaining he had been racially abused.

He said he would allow White, aged 23, to keep his freedom because references before the court praised his good character as he concluded: "By the skin of your teeth you have avoided going to prison."

White, of Bideford Crescent, Smethwick, admitted having a knife in a public place and he was further ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work in the community.

John Evans, for White, said his client felt the car driver almost ran him over and that lead to him behaving inappropriately in the resulting argument.