A BUSINESSMAN turned busker who threatened a schoolboy with a 2ft metal bar has walked free from court.

Patrick Park, 47, who had no previous convictions, pointed the weapon towards the 14-year-old's chin as he cycled in Darwen and was later found to have a lock knife, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Sentencing Park, Judge Raymond Bennett, who had read a psychiatric report, said the boy must have been very frightened. He said it was sad to see somebody of Park's age in court for the first time.

He said there were exceptional circumstances to suspend a jail term, as Park was not suitable for a community penalty and he would be wrong to send him immediately to prison.

Park, of Union Street, Darwen, was sent to prison for one month, suspended for 12 months, and conditionally discharged for a year. He had been convicted of having an offensive weapon by a jury and admitted possessing a bladed instrument and possessing cannabis.

The court heard the schoolboy was cycling down an alley when Park stuck his arm out, held the metal bar to his chin and asked him whose side he was on.

The youth asked Park what he meant and the defendant said he had been hit by the man in the green hat. Park walked away after saying he would bash the boy's head if he didn't answer him.

The boy contacted his father and they went to the police station. As they stood outside, the 14-year-old saw the defendant, still carrying the bar and Park said: "You're next".

Officers saw Park next to a car and the bar was on the roof. He was put in a police vehicle and a lock knife was recovered from the floor. Park later handed over a small amount of cannabis. Park said he got the metal bar for protection and said the boy had looked at him in an odd way.

Mark Stuart, defending, said Park disagreed with a report saying he was paranoid. What he said were his anxieties were well founded. He had been attacked and injured and police took little or no action

A man of undoubted ability, he had been a businessman, but had later been a busker to get a few pennies.

On this particular day, Park had hurt his hand. Mr Stuart said: "He had the metal bar with him. He had been told by the police to protect himself and was misled into carrying that."

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