A judge has sounded a stern warning about knife crime as he sentenced a man caught with an axe in his trousers.

Andrew Savvery, 31, said he armed himself for his own protection following threats and violence.

He was caught with the fearsome weapon after a special constable spotted him with an unregistered moped on an Esso petrol station.

He tried to make off but was detained at the forecourt on Cargo Fleet Lane, Middlesbrough just before midnight on June 26.

The unlicensed, uninsured rider claimed he had just bought the moped for £150, Teesside Crown Court heard.

When he was searched, an axe was found tucked into the waistband of his jogger bottoms, said prosecutor Emma Atkinson.

Savvery told officers he had the axe for protection after he had been the victim of violence, including an alleged wounding.

He said he been targeted by a group who had used weapons, a baseball bat and a machete, against him.

Savvery, of Alnwick Court, Grove Hill, Middlesbrough, admitted possessing a bladed article and having no driving insurance or licence.

Armed himself 'for protection'

The 12 offences on his record included possession of a lock knife, which he said was a tool for repairing a motorbike in May.

This put him in line for a minimum sentence of six months' imprisonment.

Dr Christopher Wood, defending, said Savvery stopped taking drugs and offending about five years ago.

He sought help, rehabilitated and was treated for a depressive disorder.

But people had been trying to get him back into taking drugs and recover a drug debt, and did not take no for an answer, said Mr Wood.

He added this led to threats and attempts at violence, to which Savvery never responded but he armed himself for protection.

He said the gang had been to Savvery's girlfriend's home hours before he was caught with the axe, and he went to fill up the moped to ensure an "escape route".

Axeman 'stabbed in the head two days after weapon find'

Just two days later, he was stabbed in the head, the court was told.

Mr Wood described a series of bereavements for Savvery, including a friend who died in his arms after being stabbed, and he cared for his mother who has arthritis.

He asked the judge to consider passing a suspended sentence.

Judge Stephen Ashurst told Savvery: "As you know to your cost, those who make a conscious decision to carry knives run the risk of causing serious harm.

"They may not intend to go out and seek to cause harm, but tensions are then raised, small incidents are taken out of context, ultimately people get hurt, sometimes fatally.

"And the public have a natural concern as to where this is going to end.

'Epidemic of knife crime'

"It becomes a vicious circle when weapons are taken out by people on the off-chance that they may need them to defend themselves or use them offensively if the opportunity arises.

"You took it with you because you feared you might be attacked. Of course this lies at the heart of the epidemic of knife crime.

"If everyone were to carry a knife on the off-chance they they might be a victim then this type of crime inevitably increases, and the risk of really serious harm."

Teesside Crown Court
Teesside Crown Court

He said the courts could not send out a mixed or muddled message which would undermine efforts to deter people from carrying knives.

He added: "You've got to learn, and others, that carrying knives in public is something that will almost inevitably attract a custodial sentence.

"In your case I've kept it to the absolute minimum."

Savvery was jailed for nine months and banned from driving for 10-and-a-half months.