A MAN caught twice in one night carrying large knives in the centre of Bradford told a judge he felt scared and isolated since coming to live in the city two years ago.

Marin Kidric, 24, was ejected from the Candy Nightclub and Bar in Sackville Street after staff saw him standing at the bar with a bread knife in his pocket.

A short time later, the police found him walking back towards the city centre with a large kitchen knife in his jacket, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

Kidric, of Gladstone Street, Bradford Moor, pleaded guilty at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates Court to two offences of possession of a bladed article in a public place on the night of December 7 last year. He was sent to the crown court for sentence.

Prosecutor Caroline Wigin said he was ejected from the nightclub by door staff who seized the knife from him.

Kidric left the area by taxi but was seen soon afterwards walking on Sunbridge Road with the large kitchen knife.

Miss Wigin said he had been drinking when the police arrested him.

Kidric, who represented himself in court, told Judge Jonathan Rose he could not afford legal aid.

He said he was depressed that night and went out to cheer himself up.

Asked why he carried the knives, he replied: "I was scared because of the reaction of other people."

He said he was on his way to a petrol station to buy cigarettes when the police caught him with the second knife.

"I am really sorry for this, but I did it. I do not have the intention to do it again," he said.

Kidric, who had no previous convictions, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years. He must undertake a rehabilitation activity requirement with the probation service and do 180 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Rose told him: "You are wrong in thinking there is a threat. There is no threat to you. You have to learn to rub along with people in this society."

He warned Kidric that the carrying of knives could lead to them being drawn, to inflict very serious or fatal injury.

Kidric had never been in trouble before and may have mistakenly believed that he was allowed to carry knives in the UK, but the judge warned him that any repeat of the offending would send him straight to prison for a long time.