A knifeman was cleared of affray on a Thursday, got work on the Monday before being jailed on Wednesday.

Hasan Zubair was cleared by an Oxford jury at the end of September of fronting up to another young man outside his home in Banbury, claiming that he had fetched a knife from his flat in order to defend himself.

When the 22-year-old walked from the dock on the Thursday, it had been forgotten that he still needed to be sentenced for having a small quantity of cannabis.

The drugs were found when his flat was searched by police in the wake of the daytime brawl in April.

By the time he returned to Oxford Crown Court this week, Zubair was in prison – having been jailed at the magistrates’ court last Wednesday.

The justices activated an earlier six month prison sentence – imposed for possession of a knife – after he pleaded guilty to new public order matters.

Defending, Peter du Feu said his client had arrived at magistrates’ court on the Wednesday having secured a job on the Monday. By Thursday morning, he was waking up in a prison in Worcestershire.

“He is experiencing his first ever time in custody,” the barrister said.

Zubair had acknowledged he had a problem with alcohol and cannabis use in the past. Mr du Feu told the court: “As a Muslim man it’s [drinking alcohol] is frowned upon and he knows he should, for his religion, abstain.”

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He planned to use his time in prison to get himself clean of all substances, the court heard. He had a young child by a former partner and was in a new relationship.

Zubair, of Alma Road, Banbury, pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court earlier this year to possession of the cannabis. He had 10 previous convictions on his record.

Sentencing, Recorder John Bate-Williams apologised for ‘overlooking’ the cannabis matter when Zubair was cleared of the more serious offences of affray and knife possession.

He imposed a £50 fine. The defendant will spend seven days in prison in default if he fails to pay the modest financial penalty.

The judge told Zubair: “I hope that this will be the last time you are in prison, that you continue to use your time usefully and on your discharge you will be able to regain or form contact with your very small child, get work when you’re [released] and move on to a different path.”