A 25-year-old who "waved" a knife around and threatened to hurt others and himself was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison.

Darrell Long, of no fixed address, admitted threatening behaviour at Colchester Magistrates Court yesterday.

The court heard how Long had begun to argue with his 51-year-old mum at her house in Heather Close, Clacton, about the use of a telephone on December 18.

Farah Ramzan, prosecuting, said: "The defendant grabbed a large carving knife and threatened to kill somebody.

"His mother managed to get the knife off him, but he grabbed a small steak knife, waved it around his mother and went outside threatening to kill himself."

In mitigation, Anna Perera, said: "His mother says he never pointed the knife at her, she is quite specific about what she says.

"He was waving it about in frantic manner. It was more self-destructive, rather than somebody going to hurt somebody else.

"He has a history of self-harm."

Margaret Chubb, chairman of the magistrates, said: "We are sending you to prison for this offence.

"Your mother must have been absolutely terrified."

Long was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison.