A “dangerous” 18-year-old has been jailed a day after he was caught carrying a large combat knife at a train station.

Magistrates heard how Rackeem Thomas was discovered with the blade when stopped by a ticket inspector who wanted to check his ticket on Monday.

He failed to provide one and officers from the British Transport Police (BTP) became suspicious as he was acting nervous and he had provided a fake name.

Thomas was detained at Dartford railway station but when officers prepared to search him, he attempted to flee and was stopped and tackled to the floor with the help of rail staff.

While down, the teenager tried to withdraw the hidden Rambo-style knife in his waistband.

Thomas, of no fixed address, appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, December 19, where he plead guilty to possession of a knife.

He was sentenced to six months in jail and told to pay a £154 victim surcharge. Magistrates also ordered the knife be destroyed.

Investigating officer PC Alex Morgan said: "Thomas is clearly a dangerous individual, and I am extremely pleased to see him sentenced to six months imprisonment less than 24 hours after officers found him committing the offence.

"It is incredibly rewarding to get a violent individual and horrendous knife off the rail network, and I hope this sends a clear signal to offenders that anyone caught in possession of these dangerous weapons in public will be brought to justice."