A MAN has denied wandering round the aisles of a village store carrying a knife in a threatening manner.

Witnesses reported seeing Jonathon Gerard Falashie roaming the Sainsbury’s Local store in Brandon, near Durham, carrying a kitchen knife, on Friday February 9.

It is alleged he left the Grove Road store and went to his mother’s home in the village, where police later found him asleep alongside the knife.

Appearing at Durham Crown Court via video link from the nearby prison, the defendant denied charges of causing an affray, using or threatening unlawful violence, plus possessing a bladed article in public, both arising from the incident.

Angus Taylor, for Falashie, said the defence has yet to receive all the case evidence.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said: “It’s the Crown’s position that he was in drink, wandered back to his mother’s home address, where he fell asleep and the knife was next to him.”

The case was adjourned for trial due to start in the week of July 9 and Falashie, of Prestwich, in Greater Manchester, was remanded in custody.