A man has kept his freedom after horrified shoppers spotted him with a blade outside a busy Newcastle supermarket.
Colin Martin, who already had two convictions for possessing weapons in public, was caught on CCTV pulling the kitchen knife out of his sleeve and showing it to someone near Morrisons, in Byker.
Security staff at the store, who had already been alerted by customers that there was an armed man outside the shop, immediately rang the police, a court heard.
Officers attended and tracked Martin down to a nearby property, where they found him with kitchen knives in both hands.
The 36-year-old was tasered and arrested after he refused to drop the blades, magistrates in North Tyneside were told.
Now, Martin, of Doris Wilkes House, in Byker, has avoided being sent straight to prison after he pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article.
Prosecutor, Ben Woodward, said a number of shoppers told security staff at Morrisons that there was an armed man outside the store on February 23 this year.
"The defendant was stood outside with a knife up his sleeve and he was captured on CCTV pulling the knife out of the sleeve and showing it to another male," Mr Woodward added.
"Shortly after, police located him at a property in Byker and found him with a kitchen knife in either hand.
"He refused to drop them and had to be essentially tasered."
The court heard Martin had a previous conviction for possession of a knife in 2011 and possession of an offensive weapon in July 2020.
For the latter, he was given a suspended sentence, which he breached in September last year and was jailed.
Mr Woodward said: "I would suggest this should be committed to the crown court for sentence.
"The defendant has a knife and has shown it in the middle of the day in the street. Notwithstanding the current pandemic, this is a very busy road."
Warren Ridley, defending, said Martin had made improvements in his life since last being released from prison and now had stable accommodation.
"Mr Martin has a serious drug problem," Mr Ridley added. "He has an ulcerated leg
"His drug problem involves heroin, which has ravished him. He has various difficulties.
"He also has learning difficulties and left school at a very early age. He doesn't read or write and has difficulties dealing with people on a social level."
Martin was given a 26-week prison sentence, suspended for 24 months.
