A MAN who disarmed a knifeman in a supermarket has been given a community order after he admitted a charge of affray.

Graham Hull, 32, chased the man into Sainsbury's, in Murray Street, Hartlepool, and had already taken one knife off him, before he attempted to take a second the man was carrying.

Terrified shoppers – including a 15 year old girl – cowered in fear during the incident on June 6 this year.

The pair then ran out of the supermarket before they were both apprehended by police.

Hull's barrister John Gillette said he had initially been acting as a peacemaker and trying to calm the man down, but his behaviour then turned threatening towards him.

Judge Les Spittle, sitting at Teesside Crown Court, told Hull it had not been a very wise decision to try and disarm the man.

He said: “You overreacted at the end and were exhibiting threatening behaviour.”

The judge gave Hull, of Stockton Road, Hartlepool, a 12 month community order and said he would he be supervised by the probation service