A MAN who wielded a knife in a Bournemouth post office while members of the public stood in a queue has been warned he could be sent to jail.

Beau Beale, 19, held the four-inch kitchen knife in front of him as he hurled abuse at the staff of Southbourne Post Office in Southbourne Grove last Friday.

He appeared at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to one count of using threatening words or abuse towards a person and another of possessing an offensive weapon.

Prosecutor Sadie Rizzo told the court that Beale, of no fixed abode, had been at the post office previously to buy a top-up card for his mobile phone. Staff were unable to help because he did not know which phone company he was with.

Beale returned two days later searching for the woman who had served him previously.

Ms Rizzo said: "They told him she was not there. Beale got out a four-inch brown-handled kitchen knife.

"He walked up and down the post office in front of members of public with the knife in front of him. He saw a woman with a child in the post office. He approached her and said 'I know you', still with the kitchen knife in front of him."

Ms Rizzo said that when Beale was arrested he told police he wanted to "go and cut" the member of staff or even stab her.

Tracey Watson, mitigating, said Beale has mental health issues and asked for a pre-sentence report to be compiled. Magistrates adjourned sentencing until November 29.

Chairwoman Rosaline Randle said: "We feel the offence is so serious you may go to prison. All options are open."

First published: November 5