A MAN who armed himself with a kitchen knife in a row over a chess set has been jailed for four months.

Carl Thomas grabbed the weapon at the Abalone Guest House in Sheppard Street before confronting a man in the street out-side.

And the 23-year-old was still in possession of the knife half an hour later when he was chased through town by a police-woman.

Thomas was visiting a friend at the guest house on July 16 last year when a man appeared trying to sell an electronic chess set.

Swindon crown court heard that following a disagreement with Thomas the owner of the game left the building.

Once outside he picked up a house brick and Thomas then armed himself with a knife and followed him out into the street.

The man with the brick then dropped it and ran off but was caught up by Thomas who struck him.

After the victim contacted police they returned to the scene and Thomas was spotted and chased by a female police officer. As he ran along Bridge Street the knife fell from his trousers.

Thomas, of The Circle, Pinehurst, admitted affray and possessing a bladed article.

He was cleared by a jury earlier this year of assaul-ting a police officer with intent to resist arrest.

The court heard that he had a long list of previous convictions including numerous counts of robbery.

Rob Ross, defending, said that his client was currently a serving prisoner after being returned to custody for breaching the conditions of the licence period for an earlier offence.

He said that Thomas had admitted both of the offences he was being sentenced for at the first opportunity.

After seeing the other man with a brick he said that his client had gone to get the knife and held it by his side and did not use it.

Jailing him, Recorder Ian Lawrie told him the sentence would probably not extend the period of time he spent behind bars.

He said: "You know from your previous convictions that this sort of violence will not be tolerated."

Jamie Hill