An Ipswich man accused of having a knife when he confronted two traffic wardens has been cleared by a jury.

Leroy Russell allegedly approached the civil enforcement officers after they saw a white van parked unlawfully in a permit holders’ car park in Richmond Road and told his brother they wouldn’t give him a parking ticket if he moved the vehicle, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

When he went into a nearby property to get his keys, Russell allegedly came out of the house and swore at the officers, said Daniel Taylor, prosecuting.

He was allegedly holding a knife and told the officers he had been cutting up his dog’s dinner.

He went back inside and when he returned without the knife, he allegedly threatened to knock the enforcement officers’ “blocks off” and to “do something they needed to call the police for”.

Russell, 47, of Surbiton Road, denied affray on July 5 last year.

Giving evidence he denied having a knife and claimed he was holding a spoon. He admitted swearing but denied threatening the officers.