A MAN who admitted a robbery offence, committed amid a bout of “bizarre” behaviour, is to be released after almost four months in custody.

James Robert Cowie made threats to a man in his own garage, while swinging a claw hammer around, before taking his car keys.

Durham Crown Court heard that as the startled householder ran into his nearby home to contact the police, his wife moved her car in front of the garage to prevent Cowie driving away in her husband’s Hyundai vehicle.

Chris Baker, prosecuting, told a previous hearing that Cowie, who appeared under the influence of drink or drugs, had walked into the detached garage of the house, in Wingate, shortly after 11am on December 23.

He initially engaged in conversation with the man in the garage, before demanding £500, and then taking the car keys when his request was refused.

On leaving the property he was later seen throwing bottles at parked cars in a Co-op car park while wearing a cardboard box on his head.

He later turned up at the home of the mother of his girlfriend still wearing the box on his head.

She was so concerned at his behaviour that police were called and when officers arrived to arrest Cowie he was still sporting his cardboard head-piece.

The 31-year-old defendant, then of Oak Road, Easington Colliery, appeared at the court in January when he admitted a charge of robbery, relating to the taking of the car keys from the man in the garage.

Judge Christopher Prince said he was concerned at someone committing such an offence in such bizarre circumstances and, as he believed Cowie may pose a threat of committing further offences, remanded him in custody for the protection of the public.

He asked for probation and psychiatric reports to be prepared on the defendant, but warned him he was likely to be facing a custodial sentence.

Cowie, whose home address was now given as of Newholme Estate, Station Town, appeared back before the court for sentence via video link from Durham Prison.

Having read the reports, Judge Prince told Cowie that after almost four months in custody he was prepared for him to be released and return home to his mother, providing he engages in the support of a community psychiatric team.

He passed a three year community order with 30 probation-supervised rehabilitation activity days, and told the defendant to “take advantage” of the assistance offered.