A man has been jailed after police officers found him in possession of a knife.

Carl Ferdinand, 22, of Oxwich Close, Stanford-le-Hope, was stopped by officers in Hartington Road, Southend, on January 6 this year.

After a search, officers found him in possession of a folding pocket knife with a three-inch blade.

Ferdinand was arrested and charged with one count of possession of a bladed article in a public place.

He appeared at Southend Magistrates' Court on February 11 this year where he admitted the charge.

At the same court, on March 14, Ferdinand was jailed for four months and ordered to pay £115 as a victim surcharge.

The magistrates said the reason for the custodial sentence was because the offence was "serious because while the knife was not used, it was carried in dangerous circumstances".

The bench also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the knife.

The prison sentence came during Essex Police's week of action to tackle knife crime known as Operation Sceptre.