Failure to find a spoon for his Pot Noodle has led to a violent robber being returned to prison for more than two years.

Ipswich Star: Robber Sean Reid who has been recalled to jail until November 2019Robber Sean Reid who has been recalled to jail until November 2019 (Image: Archant)

Sean Reid, of London Road, Ipswich, admitted being in possession of a knife in a public place after claiming he had used it to stir the snack as he did not have a spoon to hand when he left home.

Ipswich magistrates heard the 31-year-old had been jailed for six years in 2009 for robbery and had a five-year extended licence after release.

Being caught with the five-inch bladed knife in Handford Road, Ipswich, means Reid must now serve the remainder of his licence period in prison where he will remain until November 2, 2019.

In October 2009 Reid, then of Vernon Street, was jailed for robbery along with an accomplice after attacking a mentally ill man in his home in Canham Street. The victim lost more than four litres of blood during the 45-minute ordeal in which he was punched, kicked and slapped after a break-in in September 2008. Reid and his accomplice fled with a £200 giro cheque taken from the victim’s pocket.

At Reid’s magistrates’ court hearing prosecutor Wayne Ablett said police had seen a Vauxhall car in Bury Road travelling towards Ipswich town centre just before midnight on January 3. There were four occupants in it. When police checked the car’s details it should have been black, but was greenish-blue.

Officers followed the car into Norwich Road, but it drove off at speed. It was found at the junction of Handford Road having collided with a set of traffic lights.

No one was in the car, but Reid was seen walking away although he had not been observed getting out of the Vauxhall.

The court heard when he was stopped police found the kitchen knife on him.

Mr Ablett said Reid told an officer he had the knife because when he had left his home he had been eating a Pot Noodle and had been using the knife as he did not have a spoon.

Chris Casey, representing Reid - who listened to proceedings via a Norwich prison video link, said: “He had a dispute with his girlfriend, grabbed the Pot Noodle as he was leaving the house and grabbed a knife to stir the Pot Noodle.”

Reid was given a six-week jail term for the knife offence to run concurrently with his extended licence breach prison term.