A student's hopes of becoming a firefighter are in ruins because he took a knife with him on a night out in York.

Kieran Gordon Sewell, 18, behaved so badly at the junction of Coney Street and Market Street, police arrested him, York Magistrates Court heard.

He had a knife in his pocket.

For him, Keith Whitehouse said his conviction meant he had to change his career plans. He had hoped to become a fireman, but was now looking for a job in the construction industry.

Sewell, of Wolfreton Garth, Kirk Ella, Hull, admitted carrying a knife and was ordered to do 160 hours' unpaid work and pay £85 prosecution costs and an £85 statutory surcharge.

District judge Adrian Lower told him: "I am sure when you took a knife out with you on the night of 27/28 January you probably didn't think you were doing anything wrong."

But knives were dangerous and could kill, he said.

Mr Whitehouse said Sewell very much regretted having the knife with him. He used it for all sorts of things, including, because it was trendy, tearing his jeans.