Christopher Fidler, 21, of Dock Road, Lytham, pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon.

He was sentenced to a three months curfew, during which he must be inside his home between 9pm and 7am.

He was also put on 18 months supervision and ordered to pay £85 costs by Blackpool magistrates.

Philip Riley, prosecuting, said Fidler and a friend were involved in a public order incident with two men and a teenage boy in St Albans Road, St Annes on September 8 at 6pm.

Fidler then went into the One Stop shop, asking where the other men were. He was seen holding a sock with bricks in it.

Fidler told police he had been involved in a skirmish with the other men. He then took off his sock and filled it with two half-bricks from a nearby alley.

Fidler said it was for self-protection if the others came back.

Mitch Sarangi, defending, said his client found out that his sister had been assaulted and injured by one of the three men.

Mr Sarangi added: "There was no suggestion he wielded or used the sock in any way."