A man who was spotted in a heated argument while waving a knife around in the street landed himself in court.
Ian Fawcett and another man were witnessed harassing someone near the Toby Carvery in Middlesbrough but had left the scene by the time police arrived.
Teesside Crown Court heard how the 39-year-old was located at the Belle Vue shops on Marton Road and arrested.
Jenny Haigh, prosecuting, said: “An anonymous report was made that two males were threatening another male and the witness had seen two silver knives.
“Officers were unable to find them but there was a further call saying they were outside the shops.
“As a result, officers attended the shops, searched him and found a knife in his sleeve.”
Fawcett, of Howe Street, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article on November 15 last year and failing to surrender to bail on December 5.
Charlie Thompson, mitigating, said his client accepts that he shouldn’t have had the knife with him in public but he didn’t have a history of carrying or using knives.
He said the defendant had been working on his drink and drug issues since his arrest and he been into rehab and had been substance free for 73 days.
Read more:
- Man who blasted sawn off shotgun into ceiling to scare people is locked up
- Police officer sacked after he was remanded in custody for breaching bail
- Police officer accused of acting inappropriately with probationary colleagues
Judge Peter Armstrong sentenced Fawcett to four months in custody suspended for two years.
He said: “You had a knife in public and everyone knows what the risks are about that.
"The sentencing guidelines shows the starting point is six months in custody but you are entitled to a full third credit for your guilty plea.
“If you were sentenced to that immediately you would only serve a short time in prison, you could lose your accommodation and the good progress you have made in rehab.”
Share