A man has been jailed after going to a shop with an eight-inch knife where he stole a chocolate bar - which he later returned.

Dean Laing, 31, went into the Park Road Convenience Store in South Moor, County Durham, with two friends on December 20 last year.

As two of the men started speaking to the shopkeeper, he saw Laing taking a bar of chocolate and also noticed he was carrying a knife.

The shopkeeper, who had been running the store for around 18 months, chose not to confront the men over fears he would be injured, Durham Crown Court heard.

The three men left the store but Laing came back with his friends to return the bar of chocolate, Hmza Khan, prosecuting, said.

She said: "The shopkeeper noticed the defendant carrying a knife that was being held down his right hand side, along his thigh."

Laing was looking at the shopkeeper intensely, the court was told.

"He was afraid to question him about the chocolate," Ms Khan said.

The shopkeeper phoned the police after they left but the three men then returned, the court heard.

Police officers arrived at the store and after searching Laing, they found he was carrying an eight-inch kitchen style knife.

Richard Herrmann, defending, said: "The defendant had been carrying out some work cash-in-hand and used the knife for cutting tow rope.

"He did not enter to cause the upset that he did," Mr Herrmann.

Laing, of Edward Terrace, Annfield Plain, pleaded guilty to carrying a bladed article in a public place and was jailed for 14 months.

He also pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage after flooding the police cell after he blocked the toilet.