A THUG has been jailed for brandishing a blade on Southend Seafront on a busy Friday night causing a “serious risk of disorder”.

Adrian Wolowiec got into a row with another man in Marine Parade, Southend last summer.

The seafront was packed with people at the time of the incident, at 7pm.

The argument, on June 12, saw the two men draw knives and brandish them at each other, before they both walked away.

But alarmed residents, having seen the knives, called police.

Wolowiec, 35, of Grosvenor Road, Westcliff, was later caught on CCTV throwing a knife over a fence.

He admitted two counts of possession of a bladed article and was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court.

Prosecuting, Emma Nash said: “It was a three-to-four-inch bladed lock knife.

“He was playing with it and brandishing it as he walked along the street.

“He could be seen on CCTV and he threw that knife over a fence.

“He was described as uncooperative and he was searched, and this saw another knife found on him.”

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Ms Nash told the court Wolowiec had 11 convictions for 19 offences.

Appearing unrepresented, Wolowiec told Recorder Paul Sharkey that he realised how serious the offence was and alleged his family had been threatened.

Recorder Sharkey said: “You say that he had been threatening your son and you had been out fishing as an explanation for why you had the knife.

“You drank half a litre of rum and were intoxicated.”

Recorder Sharkey said the offence had “serious risk of disorder” as the seafront was so busy and it was a Friday night.

He added: “It could have clearly escalated had the police not attended. You accept that you had too much to drink, and you understand you need to be punished and you understand you require punishment.”

Wolowiec had also been on a curfew since the incident, the court was told.

Recorder Sharkey gave him a 12-month prison sentence to be served immediately.