A WHITEHAVEN man released from jail after he brandished a knife at guesthouse owner returned to the same property after his release – again armed with a knife.

When police interviewed Ryan Bennett about his original offence in 2018, he told officers that he had wanted to attack the guesthouse owner, by either 'kneecapping" or "putting the knife through his neck," Carlisle Crown Court heard.

The 35-year-old believed - wrongly - that the people in the guesthouse had committed offences.

Prosecutor Tim Evans outlined how on March 22 this year, after being released from prison, Bennett returned to the guesthouse armed with knife, its blade measuring eight inches.

CCTV images showed the defendant, of Brakeside Gardens, Whitehaven, loitering in the guesthouse lobby in Woodhouse Road, Whitehaven.

"It was the same male carrying out a repeat visit," said Mr Evans.

"He was waving the knife around." As the property's owner watched the CCTV footage, he felt "considerable fear", said Mr Evans.

Police were called and subdued Bennett without using a taser, said Mr Evans.

Bennett was also carrying a small quantity of amphetamine.

The defendant admitted possessing a knife in a public place without lawful authority.

Describing the earlier offence, Mr Evans said Bennett had arrived at the guesthouse 10.15pm, hurling a plant pot through a window and yelling racist abuse.

He appeared to be under the influence of something.

Bennett had produced a knife from his waistband, only surrendering when police "red-dotted" him.

The prosecutor said of the defendant's account: "He said it was just as well that the man had shut the door otherwise he would have got the knife.”

Sean Harkin, for Bennett, said he suffered with his mental health and heard voices.

During both offences, he was in the grip of a delusional belief about the guesthouse owner. "His problems are made worse by his drug intake," added the lawyer.

"Even without being under the influence of drugs, still suffers with auditory hallucinatory episodes. His mental health is therefore a significant mitigating factor."

Judge Simon Medland QC told Bennett it was within his power to lead a "more civilised life".

But on October 18, 2018, he behaved violently and abusively at the guesthouse.

He had only failed to carry out this attack because the intended victim shut the door in his face.

Yet shortly after his release he returned to the same address.

The guesthouse owner feared for his safety, the safety of his partner and single guest.

The judge told Bennett: "You were under the influence of drugs, on licence at the time for a virtually identical offence and from that sentence you had apparently learned nothing. It's obvious that the route of your problems is your repeated refusal to quit yourself of drug addiction, which greatly disturbs your mind."

He jailed Bennett for 30 months.

The judge also imposed a restraining order, banning any contact with the victim for five years and barring Bennett from Woodhouse Road.