A taxi driver arrested under anti-terror laws is facing a possible jail sentence after illegal canisters of pepper spray were found in a bedroom at his home.

Sajjad Younis Khan, described in court as a weapons enthusiast and survivalist, told police he had bought four canisters online and had used one of them to test his own pain threshold.

Birmingham Magistrates' Court was told the 40-year-old - who admitted possessing a weapon for the discharge of a noxious substance - was arrested in April under terrorism legislation and held in custody for seven days.

Prosecutor Amy Davies told the court that Khan admitted to police that he was a collector of weapons and said he had bought the canisters from a foreign website three or four years ago.

The court heard Khan, of Whitmore Road, Small Heath, Birmingham, surrendered legally-held knives and machetes to police and informed officers he was a "prepper" - defined by Ms Davies as "someone preparing to survive doomsday scenarios".

Khan's solicitor, Aftab Zahoor, told the court: "The defendant was arrested and kept in custody for a number of days - at least seven days in total - under terrorism legislation.

"The officer who interviewed him sits at the back of the court. The defendant's account was rigorously challenged and it was the officer's view that the appropriate charge should be possession of this noxious liquid.

"He made full and frank admissions at the outset of the inquiry."

When Khan bought the canisters he believed they were lawful, Mr Zahoor said, adding: "He had no intention to use the items against any individual.

"He has never taken the items out of his home address.

"The allegation that he found himself in custody for has turned his life upside down. It has put a great stain on his reputation and a mark on his name within the community."

Mr Zahoor added that his client had no sinister motive for holding the canisters and had fully co-operated with the police.

Khan, who has previous convictions for robbery and wounding dating back to 1994, was granted conditional bail and will be sentenced on June 6.

District Judge David Robinson told Khan: "Before the court can decide whether a custodial sentence is the appropriate sentence in this case, and if so how long, it's going to need a pre-sentence report to be prepared."