Nicholas Erith found himself a worried man after watching pictures of last summer's riots on TV.

Today a court heard that was the reason he filled his home with an array of smoke grenades, BB guns and paint ball guns.

But when six pepper spray canisters were discovered at his home in Alva Way, Carpenders Park, which he shared with his elderly mum, he found himself in trouble.

As a result, he appeared at St Albans crown court today pleading guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon on January 4 this year.

David Chrimes prosecuting said in December last year Erith, 54, ordered pepper spray and paint ball pellets from the USA over the internet.

On January 3 this year the order was intercepted by the border agency and the following day his home was raided and searched.

It was discovered Erith had amassed a frightening collection of smoke grenades, BB guns and paintball guns as well as the six pepper spray canisters.

Carl Woolf defending said his client had bought the items in the wake of last year's riots, but they had never left his property.

The charge Erith admitted in court was having in "his possession weapons designed or adapted for the discharge of any noxious liquid, gas or other thing".

Judge Martin Griffith sentenced Erith to 16 weeks in jail suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and pay £520 towards the prosecution's costs.