A South Oxhey man who learned he was going to jail pleaded with a judge to change his mind before leaping from the dock and fleeing the court.

Mark Spearing, 27, raced down two flights of stairs and into Luton town centre after he was sentenced for assault, affray, and criminal damage at the town's crown court on Thursday.

Spearing, of Anglesey Road, committed the offences in August when he chased and threatened a friend with a saucepan and a knife, and assaulted his former partner.

Recorder John Cavanagh QC had told him that a custodial sentence was inevitable when Spearing began pleading with him, saying he could not bear to be parted from his young son.

The Recorder apologised to him but said there would have to be a sentence of nine months when Spearing vaulted the dock.

Spearing later turned himself in to police in Watford. An extra month has since been added to his eight month sentence.

Prosecutor Timothy Naik said the offences occurred on Aug 8 this year when Spearing was looking after his son at a house in Tyttenhanger Green, St.

Albans.

During a phone call, his former partner - the boy's mother - realised he was drunk and turned up at the house with one of his eldest friends.

He then began lashing out, during which windows were broken. He then armed himself with a large knife and began chasing his friend.

He then turned a smaller knife on himself and began slashing his arm.

Simon Smith, defending said Spearing had drunk half a bottle of whisky after hearing some upsetting news, which made him lose control.

He said: "He is devoted to his son and does not want that relationship to suffer as a result of this stupidity."

Recorder Cavanagh said: "This incident must have been terrifying for everyone caught up in it. Nothing less than an immediate custodial sentence will be sufficient."