A MAN with two meat cleavers hanging around his neck was arrested by heavily armed police officers, a court heard.

Andrew Lawson was behaving in an erratic manner when the police were called to an address near Darlington town centre.

The 31-year-old, who has significant mental health issues, was also found to carrying another knife inside a bag when he arrested at Tom Raine Court on February 17 this year.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Lawson refused to take part in the hearing as he 'feared' being released from prison.

Paul Abrahams, prosecuting, said: "The police received a call to Tom Raine Court concerned about a male with knives. They attended the scene and identified the defendant, they were armed with semi-automatic rifles, a pistol and a Taser – fortunately none of them were used.

"The officer was able to detain the defendant and body-worn footage showed that there was no threats from him."

Lawson, of Richmond Close, Darlington, pleaded guilty to possession of the three knives when he appeared before magistrates.

Chris Baker, in mitigation, urged the judge to give his client full credit for his guilty pleas.

He said: "His explanation was that he was camping out because he was homeless and was going to use them to cut away vegetation. That would be the main issue that your honour will have to wrestle with."

Judge Howard Crowson decided to go through with the hearing in the defendant's absence.

"The officers were so professional and experienced they were able to deal with it without incident because he lied and told them that he didn't have any weapons," he said.

"They took a sensible and prudent course and disarmed him without having to shoot him which they were authorised to consider."

The judge added: "Sadly, we are dealing with a man with mental health issues, not sufficient to suggest a mental health disposal, but one which makes him fell safer in custody."

Lawson was jailed for a total of 20 months.

Cleaver image credit: Wooden Earth

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