Man caught with screwdriver, hammer and metal bar near Hartlepool pub is jailed

Lewis Keers, 20, admitted three counts of possessing an offensive weapon over the screwdriver, hammer and also a metal bar and was jailed at Teesside Crown Court.

He later told police he had drank 13 pints and thought he heard someone saying things about his mother.

Keers has a previous conviction for carrying a knife and was also still serving a suspended sentence for trying to rob a newsagents.

Police were alerted to Keers over fears he had a weapon near the Three Brass Monkeys in York Road on Friday, August 7, at about 9pm.

Prosecutor Uzma Khan said: “On arrival the police find the male, this defendant matching the description. He runs away but they do manage to get hold of him.

"Before they do so he does dispose of the screwdriver and hammer which subsequently are found by the officer.”

When he was arrested Keers said “I’m going back to jail” and admitted having the three weapons including the metal bar.

He added he had no intention to harm anyone and had the weapons for his own protection.

In December 2018, Keers, of Beaconsfield Street, Hartlepool, was given two years prison suspended for two years after entering a newsagents with a knife and demanding alcohol and cigarettes.

Paul Cleasby, defending, said in mitigation that Keers’ mental health had deteriorated at the time of the new weapons offence but had otherwise stayed out of trouble for over two years.

Mr Cleasby said: “When the police arrested him he was cooperative, made full admissions and even in custody has continued to seek help.

"He apologises through me for his offending and seeks assistance on his release to remain offence free.”

The law says anyone caught carrying knives or weapons twice automatically gets six months prison.

Judge Howard Crowson told Keers: “Because this is the second time you have been involved in a weapons offence there’s a certain minimum sentence that applies."

But Judge Crowson said the weapons had not been used to threaten anyone and if it was not for Keers’ record he would have been given a community order.

He was jailed for 147 days and fined £122 for breaching his suspended sentence.

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