A teenager was found carrying a 15-inch machete during a dramatic stop and search arrest at St David's train station, a court heard.

Terence Maccabee, from Peckham, was with a friend trying to catch a train back to London, when British Transport Police got suspicious.

The pair were suspected of being part of a county lines drugs gang and when searched Mccabee had the handle of a massive knife protruding from his waistband.

Officers took it from him while the second man, 19-year-old Kamar Morgan, shouted 'Do it, do it', as he was wrestled to the floor.

Maccabee, who had turned 18 just four days before the incident, admitted possessing an offensive weapon in public. He was given a suspended sentence after the judge heard he had endured a difficult childhood, been stabbed himself in the past, and wanted to escape the bad influences in his life.

Prosecutor Mr Gareth Evans said the incident happened on February 14.

The Predator styler knife seized by police

An officer from the BTP noticed Maccabee and Morgan acting suspiciously while buying children's tickets. The officer spoke to staff who said they had noticed a large amount of cash in a bag. BTP had been told to be on the look out for suspicious county lines drug activity, said Mr Evans.

The teenagers were stopped and searched.

Morgan started to get angry and was taken to the floor.

"He looked towards this defendant and said 'Do it, do it'," said the prosecutor.

A second officer was about to handcuff Mccabee who then started to get angry. He was also taken to the floor.

Morgan was found with a three-and-a-half inch lock knife. He also had about £700 in cash.

Mccabee had a black handle sticking out of his waistband which belonged to the sheathed machete. He made no comment when questioned by police.

BTP tweeted the find soon after the arrest . The machete was a branded Predator knife, named after the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger film.  

Mr Evans said the words used by Morgan 'suggested something more serious could have happened'. That defendant, from Dartford, is due to be sentenced at another court in April. 

A report by probation said Mccabee was a man of few words who had been a victim of violence himself. He said he was carrying the knife for protection. He said he had come to Exeter for some time away from his local area.

The defendant has previous conviction for threatening behaviour and caution for possessing class A.

Brian Fitzherbert, mitigating, said he was a vulnerable young person who didn't get the best start in life. He was someone who had shown a willingness to turn his life around and was working with the St Giles Trust, which helps young offenders.

"He is a good candidate for rehabilitation," said Mr Fitzherbert.

The other knife police seized

Malik Rhodiaus, a caseworker for the charity, said Mccabee had grown up around a lot of violence but wanted to get away and improve himself.

Judge Peter Johnson said: "At first blush it seems this enterprise coming down here with Morgan had something to do with county lines. You are not charged with that, you are charged with possessing a large and rather dangerous machete for which you gave no explanation or why you were down in Exeter. All persons in court know why you were down in Exeter.

"This was an extremely dangerous weapon.

"It is clear from what's been said that you are a young man trying to do his best to move away from elements or people you've associated with for some period of time and are doing all you can to try and live a law abiding life."

Mccabee was jailed for four months but the sentence was supended for 12 months. He was told to do 120 unpaid work and 25 days rehabilitation.

"You can get on with your life, employment and education and training," said the judge.