THE concerned girlfriend of a drunk Workington man alerted the police after he left the night late at night, saying he was going to stab her ex-partner.

The frightening incident happened just after midnight on December 19 last year as 35-year-old Andrew McMullan's anxious girlfriend tailed him in her car, fearful he would act on his threat, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

The defendant, of Devonshire Street, Workington, admitted carrying a bladed article in a public place with no legal authority.

At Carlisle Crown Court, prosecutor Isabella Denn-White said the defendant's partner made a 999 call just after midnight to report that the defendant had just left her address with a large kitchen knife, saying he would use it to "stab her ex-partner."

"She was following the defendant in her car while he was on foot," said the barrister. "She was able to give the call handler her location."

Police arrived as the defendant disappeared into an alleyway in Jane Street, Workington. They arrested McMullan and the knife was found discarded a few metres from where he was stopped. 

It had a seven-inch long blade.

The court heard that the defendant had 37 previous convictions, including one relating to the possession of firearms in 2007 and one arising from possessing a knife in 2018.

That offence rendered him liable to a minimum six-month jail sentence.

Mark Kellet, mitigating, said McMullan insisted that he had no intention to use the knife to stab anybody. He said he was drunk and that his girlfriend had "misunderstood" what he aimed to do. "There was no confrontation and the police were immediately called," said the barrister. 

Mr Kellet said McMullan had experienced trauma in his life, including the death of his parents and the murder of his brother. Though the defendant had problems with alcohol, he had sought help for that issue.

"He hasn't touched alcohol for two weeks," added Mr Kellet. The defendant's girlfriend wanted to remain a part of his life and to support him, the court heard. 

District Judge Richard Anthony Clews noted the defendant's two previous weapons offences but also that McMullan suffered misfortune in his life. He jailed the defendant for six months.