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Police received an anonymous 999 call at 2am claiming somebody had been hit with an axe in Church Street, Hartlepool on September 2.

CCTV showed Harley Brown, 20, chase after the unknown male with the weapon together with two others, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Annelise Haugstad, prosecuting, said: “As he ran he was swinging the axe towards the man as he tried to strike him in the back.”

Harley Brown chased a man with an axe just days after launching an unprovoked knuckle duster attack on another man.

The victim disappeared from view as he was chased into Station Approach.

As the gang came back into view, a 17-year-old boy was seen to hand the axe back to Brown.

The victim was never identified despite subsequent police appeals and he left the scene in a taxi.

One of the three males involved was also not identified although Brown and the youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were arrested.

Harley Brown was sentenced to 26 months in custody.

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Just two days prior, Brown punched an ex kick boxer in the face after an unprovoked argument outside a fish and chip shop in Sydenham Road.

The victim was standing outside smoking a cigarette when Brown approached him and said “what are you looking at?”, said Ms Haugstad.

Brown was then handed the knuckleduster by someone else and punched the man to the face, knocking him unconscious.

Brown threatened to assault the man’s wife when she challenged him.

Ms Haugstad added: “She noticed at that point her husband’s mouth was pouring with blood.”

Brown, of Hepscott Avenue, Blackhall Colliery, pleaded guilty to charges of causing actual bodily harm, having an offensive weapon, affray and possession of a bladed article.

Stephen Constantine, mitigating, both incidents were partly due to Brown self medicating with alcohol.

Mr Constantine added it was not his client’s intention to get involved in the Church Street incident and the axe was not his.

Calum McNicholas, for the youth, who admitted affray and possession of the axe, said he was a vulnerable person who had been exploited by criminals.

Judge Jonathan Carroll told each defendant immediate custody was unavoidable.

Brown was sentenced to 26 months in custody and the youth to nine months in detention.

Hartlepool yob chased after man in street with axe just days after unprovoked knuckleduster attack