A MAN who claims he carried a medieval sword through the CBD because he wanted to pawn it acted in a spectacularly foolish, provocative and potentially dangerous manner, a court says.

On Monday, the Adelaide Magistrates Court released Jay Brant on bail — but he will remain in custody because of an unrelated assault charge, to which his lawyer confessed on his behalf.

Brant, 38, of Wynn Vale, was arrested on Bank St on Sunday and charged with carrying an offensive weapon — a 1m-long steel sword — and failing to comply with a bail agreement.

In court, he told Magistrate John Wells he wanted “to explain the situation that actually happened”, saying it had “been blown out of proportion, that’s all”.

“I went to pawn this sword that I have got but the shop was closed, and a mate was going to come pick me up,” he said.

“The police saw me, jumped to conclusions and I got arrested ... everyone has got freaked out ... all I wanted was a loan of $200 for the fortnight ... can you understand the situation?”

media_camera A police officer with the 1m-long sword on Bank St. Picture: Nine News

Mr Wells assured Brant that he understood, but recommended he seek legal advice — when a duty solicitor attended on his behalf, she confirmed he had maintained his version of events.

Prosecutors opposed bail, saying Brant had been in breach of an existing condition of police bail that bans him from entering the CBD.

The Advertiser understands the charges to which that bail relates have yet to reach court, and are listed for hearing next week.

They said he had also breached a good behaviour bond imposed, in September of last year, for 10 offences including theft and property damage.

Finally, they noted Brant was due to face the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Monday morning to stand trial for assault, but another lawyer pleaded guilty on his behalf.

The magistrate at Elizabeth, they said, had remanded Brant in custody for that matter — meaning even if he were granted bail, he could not be released.

media_camera Police officers drew their guns during the arrest on Bank St. Picture: Nine News

Mr Wells agreed Brant’s case was serious but said he was prepared to release him on $500 bail, with strict conditions, to activate if he were released on the assault matter.

“The decision to take a large sword into a public place is, at best, a spectacularly foolish one that might be considered provocative and potentially dangerous,” he said.

He ordered the case return to court next month.

Outside court, a woman who identified herself as Brant’s niece told reporters that police had acted rashly.

“Everyone saw him walking around with the sword and they over-estimated it and took it out of proportion,” she said.

“He was just trying to take it to the loan shop ... if it was a car, or if he’d have been in a car, it would have been a different story.”

She said she was very distressed by the arrest.

“We watched the news and the police were drawing their guns on him and all ... he hasn’t done anything wrong, he doesn’t deserve this s--t,” she said.