Axe man likely to face jail

A MAN is facing jail after being caught with a weapon for the third time in a decade.

Jason Chrisp, who has previous convictions from 2007 for possessing a bottle of ammonia and a knife, was reported to police on July 29 by concerned residents on Tamworth Road, in Arthur’s Hill, Newcastle, a court heard.

Rebecca Gibson, prosecuting at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, said; “Police attended Tamworth Road in relation to a report of a male walking up and down the street, shouting and swearing and holding an axe.”

The court heard that 29-year-old Chrisp, who was behaving in an “animated manner” and had a cut to the back of his head, was immediately Tamworth Road, Arthurs Hill, Newcastle detained and searched but no weapon was found.

“After a short time, the defendant disclosed that he had been in possession of an axe in the street having been attacked by a group of males earlier that day,” Mrs Gibson added.

Chrisp then showed the officer where he’d hidden the weapon and he was arrested.

Now, Chrisp, of Gainsborough Grove, in Arthur’s Hill, has been warned he faces a prison sentence.

Because of his past convictions, magistrates deemed their powers of sentence were insufficient and Chrisp was released on bail to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on October 9.

Chrisp’s solicitor, Tony Malia, said full mitigation would be heard on that occasion.