A THUG with a knife who spat at a police officer has been jailed for 19 months.

Lewis Irvine was snared with the blade in Glasgow’s Sandyhills last October.

The 25-year-old plasterer went on to spit at constable Alan Prescott at a police station after his arrest.

The offence took place two months after Irvine was released on licence from an earlier sentence.

He pleaded guilty yesterday at Glasgow Sheriff Court to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

The dad-of-one also admitted possession of a knife without reasonable excuse or authority and the assault on the officer.

The court heard officers found Irvine arguing with three men at a block of flats on Balbeggie Street.

Prosecutor Adele MacDonald said: “He was shouting, swearing and threatening them.

“He said what are you doing here, where are you going and do you want to fight.”

Police recovered a red knife close by which was later found to have been handled by Irvine before their arrival.

Irvine was arrested and taken to a police station where he stated the knife didn’t belong to him.

Miss MacDonald added: “The accused said he was going to spit on them and approached PC Prescott.

“He spat in the direction of him but the spittle didn’t land on him.”

Bob McCormack, defending, told the court the knife belonged to one of the men Irvine had argued with.

Sheriff Paul Crozier said: “You offended when you were still subject to an unexpired portion of a previous sentence.

“This was unacceptable and you rightly acknowledge in the circumstances there is only one disposal and that is custody.”

Irvine was ordered to do 138 days of his earlier sentence before starting his latest jail term.