A habitual knife carrier told police they were "lucky" to have caught him as he was "going to stab someone".

Jonathan Stewart, 40, from Ramsgate, who has more than 30 previous convictions, has now been jailed after being found carrying blades on three separate occasions.

On Wednesday Canterbury Crown Court heard how he was caught on police body-worn cameras telling officers it was “lucky that you got me, I was going to stab someone, I’m not naming no names”.

Stewart made the remark following his arrest for possession of a knife on November 3.

Police were first called to a report of him spitting and swearing at two staff members in Debenhams at Westwood Cross, Broadstairs.

When officers attended, the 40-year-old told them that he was carrying a knife, saying he carried it for protection since being stabbed in the hand.

When he was searched, a kitchen knife with a 2.5-inch blade was recovered.

"Lucky that you got me, I was going to stab someone..."

Stewart, who has a long list of prior offences including shoplifting, was subsequently bailed on the condition he not return to Westwood Cross.

Then, on November 17, he was arrested once more after calling police of his own volition to tell them he was in Margate High Street and had a knife.

When officers arrived, they found a large kitchen knife with a five and a half to six inch blade in his pocket.

The Auckland Avenue resident also returned to Westwood Cross on two occasions despite being banned.

On the first, he threatened to spit in the face of a worker at Boots, who then subsequently recognised him when he visited a few days later. When she approached him, he said: “Here we go, another one who’s going to accuse me of stealing.”

He then swore at her before continuing to be aggressive and abusive when security arrived. He told the guards he had a knife prompting them to phone the police.

At a previous hearing at Margate Magistrates' Court, Stewart admitted three counts of possessing a knife, assault by beating, using threatening and abusive language, and common assault.

Kerry Witt, defending, said the offences were a deliberate attempt to be arrested after he relapsed into drug addiction as the result of the death of a close friend.

Stewart was sentenced to 16 months for each possession offence, and one month for each other offence, all to be served concurrently.

The concurrent sentence means that Stewart will only serve a maximum of 16 months, and will be eligible for parole in eight.

Sentencing, Judge Lowe said: “You used the fact that these people thought you would steal something as an excuse to be abusive towards them, but the truth is they had every right to think that of you, looking at your past convictions.

“I do hope I never see you again - I would imagine however that many judges previously have said that. Make this the last time.”

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Thanet