A woman who was busking outside the Mall was left terrified after a knife wielding man came up to her asking for a date and to sing.

Mohbeen Shah, 23, has been jailed for 14 months after he terrified Sophie Stott while she was busking in Blackburn town centre.

Betsy Hindle, prosecuting at Preston Crown Court said Shah went into town on June 20 with two kitchen knives.

Ms Stott was out busking in King William Street at the time when suddenly Shah came up to her leaving her "terrified".

Ms Hindle said: “He approached her from behind and asked her to go on a date.

“She responded ‘no, I have a boyfriend’ and he asked to see him.

“She showed him a picture and then he asked if he could sing a song and she said no.

“He asked if she knew who ‘Ghost from Accy’ was and that it was him.

“He held up his top and Ms Stott could see a knife in his waistband. She was terrified.”

He told her that as long as he could sing that she was ‘safe’ and fearing he may use the knife, she let him.

He also went up to another person in the Mall, brandished the knife and asked them if they wanted to buy any drugs.

Police were called and watched the Mall CCTV which showed Shah had left the shopping centre.

He was seen at Blackburn bus station changing his outfit and disposing of two kitchen knives which officers later found.

After his arrest, he admitted to carrying a knife, saying he carried it due to his religion.

In interview, he admitted having the second knife and told officers he disposed of them and his clothes because he knew they were looking for him.

He added that he "did not want anyone to see the knife as he didn’t want anyone to be frightened".

In mitigation, solicitor Aftab Bakhat said Shah had been suffering with his mental health following the breakdown of his engagement.

He had turned to alcohol and drugs and says when he went to town that day, he had taken drugs the night before and had been drinking that morning.

He suffered trauma as a young child and before the pandemic, went to Iraq where he saw some horrific things, Mr Bakhat said.

Since being in prison after his arrest, he has ‘improved dramatically’, having been put on medication for his mental health.

Despite initially pleading not guilty, Mr Bakhat said once Shah’s mental state was in order he admitted his offending at the earliest opportunity.

Sentencing, Judge Knowles KC said he had no choice but to jail Shah, of Roney Street, Blackburn, because of the gravity of the incident.

Judge Knowles said: “The woman says you were so obvious in showing the knife she thought you would not be scared to use it. She found it absolutely terrifying.

“You need to understand that being on the streets of Blackburn carrying a knife while intoxicated and under the influence of drugs is wholly unacceptable.

“This was such a grave incident that you can only be imprisoned.”