Man with knife and rolling pin walked aggressively through Durham

Later the same day Callum Goodwin walked aggressively through Durham city centre waving around the knife and a rolling pin, leaving passers-by, including families with young children and elderly people, in fear of violence.

Durham Crown Court heard that Goodwin was eventually tripped and taken to the ground by members of the public, who detained him until police arrived to arrest him.

Annelise Haugstad, prosecuting, said the folding knife and rolling pin were recovered from Goodwin, who, when interviewed later, claimed to have no memory of either incident.

Shown cctv of the incidents, however, he accepted he was responsible for both.

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The court was told the 29-year-old defendant, formerly of South Shields and Jarrow, was living homeless in Durham at the time, only three months after his release from a 20-month sentence for squirting urine into the face of an officer while previously on remand at the city’s prison.

Miss Haugstad said in the first incident, at 12.30am on September 18, four people were returning to a parked vehicle on level-four of the Riverside Car Park in Durham.

In otherwise quiet surroundings they heard the defendant shouting aggressively: “Get out of my car park."

He was then seen rummaging among rubbish bins from where he produced a utility knife which he unfolded and ran towards the group while continuing to shout.

The startled quartet all ran for safety and reported the incident to police, who were able to view footage of the incident captured on cctv.

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Miss Haugstad said Goodwin remained at large by the time of the second incident, at 3.10pm that day.

Several members of the public reported seeing the defendant with a wide gaze walking aggressively while carrying the knife and a rolling pin.

Miss Haugstad said although he was not venting threats at any individuals, passers-by felt intimidated by his behaviour heading over Framwelgate Bridge.

But he was followed in North Road by two unknown males, who tripped him, took him to the ground and detained him awaiting the arrival of police.

The folding utility knife and rolling pin were recovered upon his arrest.

Despite being unable to recall the incident later, Goodwin admitted two counts each of affray and having a bladed article in public, plus a single count of possessing an offensive weapon, at a previous hearing.

The court was told he has 24 convictions for 44 offences, all committed since 2014.

Sam Faulks, in mitigation, said both offences were, “borne out of drugs.”

He told the court: “After bingeing on cocaine the consequences were that he behaved in an erratic fashion in and around Durham.

“He has no recollection of it happening, but accepts it was him on cctv.

“He’s very sorry for that and realises how incredibly dangerous and stupid it was.”

Mr Faulks said the defendant’s offending arose after he lost his job with the demise of the retail chain Toys Are Us and he resorted to drug use.

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“He lost his relationship and has, for some years now, been an itinerant, abusing drugs.

“He can, hopefully, now reflect on his position and take stock so that when he gains his freedom he can start grafting and making a better fist of his life.”

Passing a 16-month prison sentence, Recorder Tom Moran said the defendant’s erratic behaviour must have caused “great fear” to those members of the public who had the misfortune to cross his path that day.