A 30-year-old man who was found guilty by magistrates of brandishing a screwdriver during an incident in Centenary Square during the summer has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Osama Hewaiatallah, of Jarratt Street, Bradford, was convicted following a trial earlier this month and the magistrates sent his case to the crown court for sentencing.

During a hearing on Thursday, Recorder Kama Melly KC was told that a security guard working outside the Wetherspoons public house saw the defendant behaving oddly and appearing to be fixated with another group of people in the area.

Bradford Crown Court heard that during the incident in August, the security guard asked the defendant if he was alright, but he ignored him and appeared to be holding something in his hand.

The court heard that Hewaiatallah was in fact holding a black screwdriver and he started to move towards the group on two occasions.

The security guard advised the group to go into the pub and he contacted the police who arrived on the scene and arrested Hewaiatallah.

When he was searched a hammer was also found in his rucksack.

Hewaiatallah, who had no previous convictions, was found guilty by the magistrates of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place in relation to the screwdriver.

His barrister Abdul Shakoor said there had been a finding during the trial that the screwdriver had been brandished and he conceded there must have been a risk of serious disorder.

But Mr Shakoor submitted that any prison sentence could be suspended and there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation in his client’s case.

Hewaiatallah, who is unemployed and on benefits, was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.

He must do 60 hours unpaid work for the community and comply with 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Recorder Melly KC told him:”There was in your behaviour a real risk of serious public disruption and there was also caused serious alarm and distress.”