A ‘bully’ who threatened a father with a knife after he was confronted about stealing his son’s pizza has been before the courts.

Shaun Metcalfe confronted the disgruntled man with a 13-14in kitchen knife when he turned up to remonstrate with the defendant in Stockton town centre and chased him shouting ‘start on me’.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 21-year-old threatened to stab the man before showing off the knife that he had tucked in his waistband.

The judge heard how the man then got back in his car and left the scene.

Annelise Haugstad, prosecuting, said the defendant was caught on CCTV returning to his home and hiding the knife behind a cushion before he was arrested.

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Metcalfe, of Leybourne Terrace, Stockton, pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article.

Nicci Horton, in mitigation, said her client was one of many people in that area of Stockton to arm themselves with knives for ‘their own protection’.

“The area is rather notorious in Stockton,” she said. “He is aware of how wrong it is to carry knives, then again, a large number of people in that particular area tend to because the feel safer – the hypocrisy behind that thought process doesn’t escape the defendant.

“It seems to be that is something fairly habitually done in that area and given his antecedent history is, he has concerns for his safety because he has frequently carried weapons.”

Miss Horton said Metcalfe plans to move away from the area to get away from people once he is released from prison.

She added: “He apologises (for his behaviour) but tries to explain it by saying the reason he does it is because he feels constantly threatened – sad, but unfortunately that is pretty accurate for that area of Stockton.”

Recorder Jamie Hill QC sentenced Metcalfe to 16 months in prison following his guilty plea following the 'bullying' incident last month.

He added: “I find this case deeply concerning because of your record, this is the third time before the court for having a knife in your possession.

“Carrying a knife for your own safety is not and cannot be an excuse for somebody caught with a weapon. You must be aware the wave of knife crime encompassing this country.”

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