A VALLEYS man who armed himself with a knife, an imitation firearm and an air pistol because he feared he would be attacked was given a two-year community order.

Newport Crown Court heard Nigel Davies, 51, called police himself on March 22 after becoming worried he would be attacked by a group of drug addicts.

When officers arrived to speak to him, Davies, of Ty George Court, Tredegar, was unsteady on his feet.

Upon searching him officers found he was carrying a wooden-handled knife and a small antique muzzle-loading pistol he said had once belonged to his grandfather.

He was arrested and taken to Ystrad Mynach police station where officers also discovered he had an unloaded gat gun.

Davies admitted possesing a knife, an imitation firearm and an unloaded pistol at an earlier hearing.

Hywel Hughes, prosecuting, told the court Davies had no ammunition on him and the weapons were to be used only "for show".

Owen Williams, defending, said drug addict Davies, who had taken amphetamine on the day in question, had little recollection of what happened. He urged Judge Rhys Rowlands to consider a community sentence so Davies could address his alcohol and drug misuse.

Judge Rowlands made Davies the subject of a two-year supervision order and ordered him to take part in a 12-month drug rehabilitation order.

But he issued him with a warning about the dangers of carrying weapons.

He said: "Whatever your belief at the time, anybody that deliberately arms themselves with a knife and these firearms commits a serious offence and one that causes the general public a great deal of concern.

"You had been taking drugs and there is no knowing what you might have done with the knife had you ended up in a confrontation."