A DRIVER who came at a cyclist with a lock knife in his hand has been sentenced.

Augusto Guttierrez Javier, 62, of Barton Road, Newport, appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Tuesday (27).

He admitted possession of a weapon in a public place, and one count of causing harassment, alarm or distress.

The court heard from prosecutor, Ann Smout, how Javier had been driving in Newport and had sounded his horn at a passing cyclist.

When he later parked his vehicle on Barton Road, the cyclist approached him, and Javier got out of his vehicle holding a lock blade.

Ms Smout said the cyclist had to hold his bike in front of himself for protection, as Javier walked toward him holding the knife.

Javier was still in his vehicle when police arrested him and found the knife tucked into the side of the door.

In a statement read out in court, the victim described the look in Javier's eyes, and how terrified he was to have a person come at him with a knife.

He wrote of how alarming it was that such a minor incident could have led to him being harmed.

Ms Smout said Javier was a builder who carried a knife between jobs.

Oscar Vincent, defending, said Javier was a man of previous good character, and both he and his wife worked at St Mary's Hospital.

He said there was a catalogue of problems affecting both of them, and they had been subjected to racist taunts, had rubbish thrown in their garden and objects thrown at their door.

Mr Vincent told the court Javier had been to see his daughter, and was driving home when the victim pulled across his path.

He said Javier never intended to use the knife ­— knew it was wrong ­— and wanted to warn the male away.

Javier was given an 18-month community order to include 150 hours of unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £95 surcharge.