Man jailed after being spotted on CCTV carrying a knife in South Shields street

Officers were alerted to a property in Ryton Court in South Shields after a CCTV operator became suspicious of what Lee Amess was holding in his hand.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Amess, who was at the house collecting a mobile phone that a friend had left, claimed he had found the blade lying on the ground.

Annie Richardson, prosecuting, told the court: "Police officers were were called to the address following a report of a male with a knife.

"There were two people standing outside - a lady and this defendant.

"The police went to search both and one of the officers saw him throw something behind him on a grassed area, and they picked up a red lock knife.

"It was located near to where he was standing and his reply was 'whey aye' when he was arrested."

The 27-year-old admitted to possessing a bladed article in public and he was sentenced by a crown court judge.

Amess, of Cookson Place, Stanley, has 22 previous convictions for 34 offences but has been out of trouble since 2016, the court heard.

Mitigating, Ellen Wright told the court: "The defendant went to the address where he was found because a friend of his had left their phone at the house.

"It appears there had been some trouble beforehand that he didn't know about.

"He saw it lying next to the back door, and regrettably, he picked it up and had it in his hand and not long after the police arrived.

"When he saw them, he panicked and threw it behind him.

Ms Wright went on to tell the court of the difficulties Amess has encountered throughout his life, but has since attempted to turn over a new leaf.

She told the court: "He has faced significant challenges in his past - he had an upbringing in care and has suffered mental health difficulties."

The court heard how Amess had started a new job packing pretzels at a KP factory, but had to be laid off and has since been shadowing a labourer with the intention of gaining skills in that field.

Mr Recorder David Gordon sentenced Amess to seven months imprisonment and told him: "One of the prominent features of the case is your antecedent history, you have previous convictions for similar offences.

"It seems to me you have had a very upsetting early life and that, and I bare that very much in mind in passing the sentence that I do.

"It also seems to me this is a case of high culpability.

"This is a balded article, there's no getting away from it.

"It was a dangerous and nasty weapon and you had no business to possess that knife as you were in a public place."

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