South Shields ammonia attacker is back behind bars after carrying axe 'for protection'

A "paranoid" son who carried potentially lethal weapons for protection after his dad was murdered is back behind bars.
Liam Liddle has returned to prison.Liam Liddle has returned to prison.
Liam Liddle has returned to prison.

Liam Liddle was jailed for 39 months last January after he squirted ammonia into a man's face and caused permanent eye damage.

By March this year, the 23-year-old was back on the streets after being released on licence - and caught carrying a hatchet axe plus more ammonia, which he had in a purple juice bottle.

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Newcastle Crown Court heard police had received a tip-off that Liddle was armed and tracked him down to Newmarket Walk, South Shields.

Liddle was abusive towards the officers and offered one if he wanted to fight in a "straightener" before he eventually dropped what he was carrying.

The ammonia was tested and found to be of low concentration.

Liddle, who has a total of 17 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to two charges of having an offensive weapon.

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Mr Recorder Simon Kealey sentenced him to 28 months behind bars.

The judge told him: "Neither of the two weapons in the circumstances you had them had any legitimate purpose other than to assault another person.

"The weapons themselves could, and have in the past, inflicted serious harm on others.

"They were potentially lethal weapons."

Vic Laffey, defending, said Liddle's father had been murdered a "number of years ago" but gave no further detail about what happened.

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Mr Laffey said the tragedy gave Liddle "increased levels of paranoia" and made him fear he was a "marked man in the area".

The court heard Liddle,who used drugs as a way of coping after his dad's death, started carrying weapons for his "own protection."

Mr Laffey added: "He considered himself to be in some danger."

The court heard Liddle had not used or threatened anyone with the weapons before he was arrested.

Mr Laffey said drug problems have blighted Liddle's life but he is now willing to address them.