CUSTOMERS at a town centre cafe were left terrified at the increasingly threatening behaviour of two youths, which resulted in one brandishing an axe, a court heard.

Staff helped usher children as young as three-years-old out the back of Citrone’s, in Chester-le-Street, as the confrontation developed between Sam Henderson and another youth.

Durham Crown Court heard that manager Francis Citrone had been keeping watch on the pair, one of whom was sitting with his girlfriend, as they became more heated on Saturday August 23.

Ian Mullarkey, prosecuting, said the other youth threatened Henderson and, as his partner was pregnant, invited him “outside” to sort out their differences.

But he then picked a small jar top and threw it at Henderson, who then produced what was described as an 18in-long axe from his trousers.

The other youth threw a second glass jar in the direction of Henderson, who then raised the axe above his head in a threatening manner, saying he would, “chop him up”.

Mr Mullarkey said Mr Citrone attempted to calm things down, but was principally trying to move the other customers away from the rival pair.

Eventually the youth who threw the glass jars left the Front Street premises, driving away in a vehicle parked outside, while Henderson disappeared on foot.

Henderson was later arrested, and, when interviewed the following day, he said he carried the axe “for protection”, which is why he produced it during the stand-off in the cafe.

He said his own elbow was injured by the glass jar thrown by the other youth and admitted threatening to attack him with the axe.

Asked where the axe was, he told police his discarded it in a drain near Chester-le-Street Railway Station, but he refused to say which one.

Mr Mullarkey said Mr Citrone described it as the most frightening incident in the decades he had run the cafe.

He said there were 12 customers in the premises at the time, aged three to 13, and his instinct was to move them away from the pair who were squaring up to each other.

Members of staff, who were left in tears, had managed to usher some of the younger customers from the back of the cafe.

Henderson, 20, of The Brooms, Ouston, near Chester-le-Street, admitted threatening a person in a public with an offensive weapon.

Judge Christopher Prince said he would adjourn sentence until Friday to allow Henderson to pinpoint to police which drain the axe was discarded.