Watch the moment a machete-wielding thug chased a man around a parked car while astonished bystanders watch on.

Peter Darbyshire picked up the weapon after a member of a balaclava-clad gang dropped the two-foot-long machete before chasing them away from a busy parade of shops.

The 31-year-old claimed he was acting in self-defence during the incident, which took place near Dumbarton Avenue, Ragworth, Stockton, at around 2pm on June 22 this year.

Teesside Crown Court was shown the CCTV footage before Judge Howard Crowson jailed Darbyshire for ten-months for his role in the violent disturbance.

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The footage showed the defendant approach one of the men while brandishing the machete before chasing him away from the scene and innocent bystanders watched on.

Jonathan Gittins, prosecuting, said the incident had caused several people to seek refuge in the nearby shops but conceded that other witnesses merely stood near the car and watched the incident unfold.

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Darbyshire, of Cheshire Road, Stockton, pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour with an offensive weapon.

Nicci Horton, mitigating, said her client maintained that the machete was brought to the shopping parade by members of a balaclava-clad gang and was convinced he was protecting other people at the time.