A MAN who took a ‘walking stick to a knife fight’ has been jailed after committing a catalogue of offences.

Christopher Bowlt was involved in an armed fight with machete-wielding Brian Stevenson when violence erupted on the streets of Hartlepool.

The 39-year-old was filmed brawling with Stevenson on Shrewsbury Street, on Friday, October 8 last year, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, said Bowlt admitted his role in the violence on the day he was due to go on trial.

He added that messages found on a mobile phone of one of the people fighting suggested there had been a build-up beforehand.

Read more: Man said the 'devil' told him to kill seven people as he tried to stab victim to death

“They had a fight using weapons on Shrewsbury Street, Hartlepool, that occurred in broad daylight,” “It is apparent from the footage that other people were present in the street watching the fight whilst it was going on.”

Bowlt, of Bright Street, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to affray and possession of an offensive weapon, the walking stick, following the incident last October.

The defendant also pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified, no insurance and driving without a licence, following an unrelated incident a few weeks earlier on September 21.

He was also found guilty of assaulting an emergency worker when he headbutted a police officer and attempted to spit at officer after he was pepper sprayed when he was arrested.

Mr Towers added: “As we lifted him from the floor, he threw his head back and with force headbutted the officer to the temple.”

Andrew Turton, in mitigation, said his client was attempting to turn his life around and urged the judge to pass a suspended sentence as he had spent a few months on remand following his arrest for affray.

Read more: Darlington sex offender back in jail after looking at child sex abuse images on USB stick

Judge Howard Crowson sentenced Bowlt to ten months in prison but told the defendant he could soon be released due to his time spent on remand.

He said: “The sentence I am going to impose might mean you are released quite soon but I didn’t do it because I was trying to work out when you were going to get released – it turns out you will be released soon then that it is justified as you will have served.”

  • Stevenson, who was armed with a machete during the incident, and had previous convictions for affray and possessing a bladed article, was jailed for 16 months.

The 34-year-old, of Airdrie Grove, Hartlepool, had earlier admitted affray and possession of a bladed article following the armed fight.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated Teesside Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054