A FORMER soldier who was captured on CCTV brandishing a large machete and lashing out with it was merely “posturing”, a court was told.

Mark Watson claimed to have picked up the weapon during a fracas involving several men in Bolckow Road, Grangetown, Middlesbrough, on August 13 this year.

Police were called and recovered the knife after Watson dumped it in a wheelie bin.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court, said: “The defendant can be seen running at various people brandishing the machete and swinging it towards them.”

Watson, 31, of Cunningham Drive, Thornaby, had a conviction for affray from his Army days and also received a four year-plus jail sentence in 2014 for conspiring to supply class A drugs.

He admitted affray and possessing an offensive weapon.

Andrew Turton, mitigating, said the defendant had not intended to harm anybody and trouble had come to his door, rather than the other way around.

Mr Turton said much of his behaviour had been “posturing”, adding: “He maintains he acted impulsively in dealing with the situation, fuelled by drink.”

Watson, who was said to have lost his parents in tragic circumstances, was in work and employed by a sub-contractor removing asbestos.

Judge Peter Armstrong said there had been an element of provocation and taking into account Watson’s circumstances, he was minded to give him a chance.

The defendant received a six month jail sentence, suspended for two years, and was also made subject to a four month electronically-tagged night-time curfew.