A MAN who fled from the police following an armed confrontation in the street has been jailed.

Callum James Seed intended to “warn off” a man who had allegedly threatened to burn his house down in an argument over a mobile phone, Durham Crown Court heard.

When he found the man, in Chester-le-Street on the afternoon of Sunday, January 18, he produced a “combat-style knife” and started walking towards him armed with the weapon.

A witness reported seeing the other man reach behind him, as if to produce his own weapon; prompting Seed to get back into his black Renault Clio and drive off.

The police were called and went after Seed, who led them on a brief car chase, driving at around 40mph in a 30mph zone, before abandoning his vehicle and making off on foot.

An officer gave chase, but Seed escaped after climbing onto some garages.

However, the 21-year-old was recognised by the officer and picked out of an identity parade by the witness.

Seed, of Brecon Place, Perkinsville, Chester-le-Street, made no comment during two police interviews, even after being told of the ID parade.

However, he later pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in public, failing to stop when required to by a police officer and using or threatening abusive words or behaviour.

Jamie Adams, mitigating, said there was “another side” to Seed: he could be caring and he was “not one of those young men who goes around committing lots of offences”.

He handed the sentencing judge, Christopher Prince, reference letters from Seed’s football coach and mother, plus one from the 21-year-old himself, and asked Judge Prince to suspend any prison sentence imposed.

However, the judge said a clear message had to be sent that people taking knives into public places would be jailed. In circumstances such as these people get killed, he added.

“You were well aware of the gravity of what you were doing, otherwise you wouldn’t have made such desperate attempts to get away from the police,” he told Seed.

“If you go out with a knife in public you must expect to be sent to prison. Hopefully, knowing that, other people now won’t do what you did.”

Seed was sentenced to a total of six months in prison.

The knife belonged to Seed’s passenger, who had previously been given a community sentence. The man Seed threatened has not been identified.