A DRUNK threatened a police officer with a knife so he could go back to prison – just 24 hours after he had been released.

David McCrimmon demanded to be taken back to jail as he waved the weapon at PC Peter Gallon.

Jailing him for 39 weeks yesterday, Judge Adrian Lyon said: “These circumstances arise, I suspect, simply because you wanted to go back to prison.”

Frail McCrimmon, 33, shouted back “yes”.

But he was warned by the judge: “You can’t keep hiding in prison, though.

“At some point, you’re going to have to learn how to live in the community.”

Due to time already served, McCrimmon will be released in about four weeks.

David Evans, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court PC Gannon had spotted McCrimmon as he drove along Stanley Road, Bootle.

He was waving a knife around in the air, while clutching a walking stick.

The officer stopped and approached McCrimmon, who shouted in a slurred voice: “I’m going to slash you, take me to Walton.”

Eventually the officer used his baton to hit McCrimmon’s hand, forcing him to drop the knife.

McCrimmon, of no fixed address, admitted affray on October 1, 2008.

Teresa Loftus, defending, said: “Mr McCrimmon expects and wants to go to prison.”