A MAN who was caught using a knife to stop a fight in Slough had to defend himself in court because he couldn’t afford legal representation.

Tomasz Cwelig, 40, was caught on May 14 last year with a lock knife in High Street after police received reports about a street fight.

The incident was caught on CCTV, leading officers to Cwelig who was arrested and pleaded guilty to one count of possession of an offensive weapon.

READ MORE: Cause of death of man found in Slough suspected to be from heroine use

He was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Thursday (August 17) where he told Judge Hassan Khan that he could not afford a defence lawyer.

“It’s low money at the moment [sic],” he said. “But I’ve tried.”

When asked if he was going to represent himself, he said he had ‘no choice’.

The court heard that a fight have broke on the street and Cwelig had taken out a lock knife, which was in a black bag around his neck, to intimidate the other people involved into backing away.

He is a man of previous good character.

When asked by Judge Khan why he did it, Cwelig said: “It’s stupid that I did that. [I have] nothing to say. It’s my fault.

READ MORE: Man's death suspected to caused by asbestos exposure

“I was a stupid thing I did for protection. I’ll never do it again.”

Cwelig, of Castle Street, Slough, was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 15 months.