A drunken yob slid a kitchen knife from his sleeve as he lunged towards police officers during a frightening early morning fracas.‬

‪Convicted robber James Thompson, 25, was on prison licence at the time after receiving a 45-month jail term in February, 2019. Thompson and a partner-in-crime committed a terrifying knifepoint robbery of a taxi driver in darkness two months earlier.

With jacket hoods pulled tight around their faces, they demanded to be taken to a shop car park off Wigton Road, where Thompson — high on alcohol — brandished a knife and forced the frightened cabbie to flee.

Thompson was released from prison in October last year.

But on April 10 he was back in trouble. Prosecutor Peter Wilson told Carlisle Crown Court two police officers were called to deal with an unrelated incident at around 3am in the Harraby area.

“Officers spoke with the defendant who was highly intoxicated,” said Mr Wilson.

“Thompson lunged towards one officer with a knife. The officer pushed his arm away and the knife slid down from the fleece of Mr Thompson.

“He holds it up towards the officer, causing him to fear immediate unlawful violence.”

Incapacitating spray was deployed, the kitchen knife was recovered and Thompson, of Linden Terrace, was arrested. He later admitted threatening behaviour with a bladed article‬.

The court heard of Thompson’s remorse, of recent personal difficulties and also of a lengthy criminal record which included the robbery.

Tariq Khawam, defending, described the latest incident as short-lived.

But Recorder Mark Rhind QC spoke of the “sheer luck” Thompson was disarmed.

“When people start getting knives out and lunging at police officers when in drink and agitated, no-one knows what is going to happen,” said the judge.

“The police officers will have dealt with cases where members of the public or colleagues get stabbed.”

Passing an immediate 12-month jail term for what he called a “really serious offence”, he added: “It must have gone through the officers’ minds the prospect of not going home that night to their family and friends.

“That was caused by your behaviour.”