A MAN who threatened a pregnant woman and a child with knife at Highbridge train station has been jailed for 17 months.

Jonathon Bowyer, 55, of High Street, Highbridge, was charged with threatening a person with a bladed article and racially aggravated harassment following two incidents in April last year.

At the hearing at Taunton Crown Court on Friday (January 4) prosecuting Caroline Coombe told the court Bowyer was seen running with a knife down Market Street near Highbridge train station on April 28, 2018 and threatened to kill a pregnant woman with a knife in the station's car park.

The court heard Bowyer was also charged with breaching a criminal behaviour order which was imposed in 2016 and criminal damage.

The prosecution said the woman, who was with another woman and a four year old girl at the time of the incident, was 'terrified' and shouted: "The knife is going to catch us run, run."

Ms Coombes said Bowyer was also abusive to a woman in Oxfam in Burnham-on-Sea on April 18, 2018 and called her a 'n****' while she was queuing to pay for her shopping.

She said: "It caused distress and alarm to her. She feared violence was going to be used against her.

"He smashed a pane of glass in a window as he left the store."

Defending Harry Ahuja said Bowyer suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and had problems moving to a new GP after his release from prison last year.

"After his release from prison he was sent to live in West Huntspill," Mr Ahuja said.

"He said he couldn't register with a doctor and as a result he was not taking his medication.

"He has had an ongoing drink problem with alcohol for a number of years and began drinking again which led to his public order offences."

Mr Ahuja said Bowyer has been back on his medication since he has been remanded in custody and has been regularly attending Alcholics Anonymous (AA) meetings.

The defence said Bowyer is working hard to improve his health and said he does not want to commit any further offences.

When sentencing Bowyer, Judge David Ticehurst, said: "I am in no doubt that you started committing crimes as you have issues with your mental health.

"At 55 years old you are too old for this. On April 28 the people at the station must have been terrified.

"All they would have seen is a man waving a knife around and shouting abuse at them.

"I am sure when you are taking your medication you are nice sort of person.

"So please take your medication and stop being a thorough nuisance."

Judge Ticehurst sentenced Bowyer to 17 months in jail.