Seaham man caught with machete down trousers while carrying cooker along South Shields street

Police had been called after Gary Brennan and another man were spotted walking along Manet Gardens, South Shields, with the oven, and a neighbour thought it looked suspicious.

When officers searched 36-year-old Brennan the weapon was found down his trouser leg.

Prosecutor Shada Mellor told Newcastle Crown Court the witness had noticed the two men at a house in the street on March 21 and thought they seemed behaviour was odd and so contacted the police.She added: "After a few minutes he saw the two males come out of the front door of an address carrying what appeared to be an oven and walk up the street, carrying the item."The police attended and located the defendant and the other man carrying an oven down the street."They were searched and the defendant was in possession of a large machete concealed down his right trouser leg, in a sheath attached to a belt he was wearing."The court heard at the time of the offence Brennan was out on licence from a nine-and-a-half year sentence for violence and has now been recalled to continue serving the prison term, which expires in 2024.Fiona Lamb, defending, said Brennan had been asked to help move a cooker and "didn't think, at that point, he was doing anything wrong".Miss Lamb said Brennan had made "huge strides" and had got a job and a supportive partner since his release from jail and added: "He is extremely disappointed to find himself back in custody."He feels he has made a terrible error of judgement and ended up back where he doesn't want to be and, in his own words, he has lost everything."Brennan, of Aline Street, Seaham, admitted having a bladed article.Judge Sarah Mallett sentenced Brennan to eight months behind bars and said there was "no alternative" to custody as the sentence he is serving expires in 2024.Judge Mallett told him: "You may be released earlier than that but that's a question for the parole board, not me.

"I accept you deeply regret your behaviour."

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