A MAN’S reaction to complaints over loud music being played at his home may scupper his hopes of joining the Army, a court heard.

Scott Martin Henderson-Tinkler’s conviction for causing an affray and possessing an offensive weapon in public, arising from events on Saturday June 11 this year, could harm his hopes of becoming a soldier.

Durham Crown Court heard there was a background of previous complaints over loud parties at night, which caused problems for local residents, but for which he was only ever cautioned.

Penny Bottomley, prosecuting, said there had also been annoyance over empty drinks cans and vomit in a nearby passage way in Braithwaite Road, Peterlee.

Miss Bottomley said although he was in by himself that evening, he was made aware by a friend that there were comments on a community social network site, making reference to the loud music coming from his home, adding that if he does not turn it down, he could expect a knock at his door.

His reaction was to arm himself with a machete in case someone came round to complain.

Miss Bottomley said a neighbour’s sons did approach his home, but Henderson-Tinkler appeared at the doorway and raised the machete above his head, shouting comments along the lines of: “Come on”, or “Ha’way then”.

It resulted in police being summoned to his home and he showed the officers the comments left on Facebook.

He said he was fearful, being home alone, so he armed himself with the machete to defend himself.

The 21-year-old defendant, now of Newlands Road, Trimdon Village, admitted both the affray and offensive weapon charges.

Jane Waugh, mitigating, told the court that the defendant underwent “something of a troubled upbringing”, but did an apprenticeship in bricklaying on leaving school, aged 16.

Miss Waugh said since completing the bricklaying course he has more recently been unemployed and suffered with depression.

She said once he recovers, he hopes to apply for the Army, but, with this case looming, he had inquired and was told a custodial or even a suspended sentence may end his chances of being accepted.

Judge Simon Hickey said, based on what he heard, he was able to “draw back” from an immediate jail sentence, but the offences still merited a suspended sentence.

He imposed a one-year sentence, suspended for a year, with a seven-year restraining order preventing him from contacting his ex-neighbour.