A man who took an axe into a County Durham fish bar and brandished it at people has been jailed for six-months.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court heard on Monday (June 27) that 29-year-old Mason Curley took a black and orange axe into Shira's Fish Bar on Doxford Terrace in Murton on May 14 this year.

Read more: Man arrested for attempted murder after crash leaves biker seriously injured

He pleaded guilty to the courts to possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

At the time of the offence, Curley, of Wetherburn Avenue, Murton, Seaham, was already under suspended prison sentences for previous offences.

On January 17, 2022 a suspended sentence order was made by County Durham and Darlington Magistrates after Curley made off without paying for fuel worth £34.26 on December 29, 2021.

He was given a two-week prison sentence for the theft, suspended for 12-months.

Curley was also given a 12-week prison sentence suspended for a year after breaking into a shed on Warnebrook Avenue in Murton on December 20, 2021 and stealing items including a petrol can.

Read more: Police thank public for reporting man armed with a crossbow in North East street

Curley admitted on Monday that the weapon offence put him in breach of the suspended sentence orders and magistrates jailed him for six months.

They said the prison sentence was due to Curley being a repeat offender, the weapon being brandished in front of members of the public and his failure to comply with court orders.

Curley was also ordered to pay £213 in court costs and charges.

 

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054