An armed man whose ‘appalling behaviour’ was caught on CCTV when he was trading blows with a hammer-wielding man has been locked up.

Macaulay Branighan pulled out lighter before stabbing John Stott in the chest after he was threatened with a hammer during the brawl.

The 25-year-old then kicked Stott's partner to the floor as she remonstrated with him in the street.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Branighan and an unknown man had been the Stott’s home on Wembley Way, Stockton, moments before the violence erupted in the street.

Jonathan Gittins, prosecuting, said Stott and his partner followed Branighan and the other male and he started swinging around a hammer and taking swipes at the defendant.

“He goes to hit with a hammer and he pulls out a weapon and stabs towards him,” he said.

“Following some swings and attempted blows, Stott drops the hammer and his partner picked it up.

“She follows him and Branighan kicks out at her, knocking her to the ground and causing her bruising to her legs and arms.”

Mr Gittins said Stott suffered two puncture wounds to his chest caused by the lighter.

Branighan, of High Newham Court, Stockton, pleaded guilty affray and possession of an offensive weapon following the incident on July 30 last year.

Tom Bennett, mitigating, said his client had struggled during his childhood following the murder of his father and often carried weapons for protection after being attacked several times.

Recorder Aisha Wadoodi raised concerns about the defendant’s propensity to carry weapons as she locked him up for seven months.

“This was appalling behaviour in the street. I have seen the CCTV footage,” she said.

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“You have been sentenced to prison before for possession of a knife and criminal damage and you have a worrying antecedent criminal history.

“Obviously, you are quite prepared to use whatever offensive weapon you have at your disposal at any given time.

Stott, of Dovecot Street, Stockton, will be sentenced for his role in the violence in March after the judge adjourned the case against him to allow time for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

The 49-year-old pleaded guilty to affray and possession of an offensive weapon.