CYCLIST Jason Johnson has been jailed for four months after pedalling up to a woman in The Lawns and asking her if she would like to join him "in the bushes".

Johnson, of Moredon Park, Swindon, was later found to be armed with a small knife as well as two pool balls stuffed in some socks, town magistrates heard.

And, when arrested, he gave police a false name.

The 32-year-old pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing an offensive weapon, obstructing a police officer and committing a public order offence.

Sentencing him to the jail term, chairman of the bench Ann Cleverly told him: "We find that these were very dangerous offences and you have shown no remorse."

Prosecuting, Amanda Sawetz said that at 3.30pm on June 17 a woman was walking home from work via The Lawns when she became aware of Johnson cycling nearby.

"He came up to the side of her and attempted to engage her in conversation," Miss Sawetz told the court. "He asked the woman what her name was, where she was going and if she wanted to go with him. When she told him she was married he said 'that doesn't matter'."

Miss Sawetz told magistrates the woman became anxious and afraid of Johnson.

"She tried to say she was meeting someone," Miss Sawetz said. "He continued to cycle next to her and he asked her if she wanted to come into the bushes."

The court heard that when the woman went up to someone she knew, Johnson cycled off.

The victim later returned to the park with police, and was able to point out Johnson to them.

In the interview, Johnson admitted asking the woman questions and said he had been "trying to chat her up".

He said he didn't consider that anything significant happened in the park.

In mitigation, Stephen Weighell said his client had not realised what he had done.

Mr Weighell added that Johnson had been rejected for a sexual offender's course.