A man charged with brandishing a knife in August was sentenced to three months in jail.Edwin Trott Wolffe admitted on August 27 to pulling out a knife amid a crowd of tourists at Hamilton Ferry Terminal on August 26.At an earlier court hearing, the 37-year-old said he was forced to pull out a knife to defend himself against “drunk and belligerent” ferry riders.Prosecutor Larissa Burgess told Magistrates’ Court that a three-year custodial sentence would be appropriate, as it is the minimum penalty for the offence.Defence lawyer Charles Richardson argued that Wolffe had been imprisoned since August 27 and had learned his lesson. Mr Richardson also explained that given the circumstances, a conditional discharge would be appropriate. He stressed that if a custodial sentence must be given, then it should be for no more than six months.Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said: “I must consider [Wolffe’s] personal circumstances as well as his early guilty plea and his previous conviction for a not dissimilar offence.”The Magistrate sentenced Wolffe to three months’ imprisonment to run from August 27. The defendant was also sentenced to two years’ probation on the condition that he follow the conditions set out in his social inquiry report. He must also abstain from use of illicit substances, comply with any drug tests and complete any programmes deemed appropriate by court services.