Machete-wielding Stockton teenager jailed for chasing man

Harvey McQuilling was jailed at Teesside Crown Court

A teenager who brandished a machete as he chased a man has been jailed.

Harvey McQuilling was 17 when he got involved in a fracas outside a taxi office in Stockton on 2 October last year, Teesside Crown Court heard.

A judge said his knife was "substantial" and capable of killing.

The now 18-year-old, who is serving 34 months for an armed robbery and dealing Class A drugs, was jailed for a further four months after admitting possessing a blade.

The court was shown CCTV footage of Yarm Lane in Stockton at about 02:30 BST in which a group of young people were arguing and pushing each other.

McQuilling was "not part" of the group but immediately pushed himself "to the fore", His Honour Judge Jonathan Carroll said.

He said the "fracas was no business" of McQuilling's but the youth pulled the large machete from his trousers, unsheathed it and waved it in close proximity to several people.

'Horrified'

McQuilling, who appeared via video link from HMP Durham, then chased one of the young men from the group down the street while brandishing the weapon towards him, the court heard.

"It was a substantial weapon perfectly capable of inflicting very serious damage indeed and frankly the kind of weapon that could easily lead to serious injury or death," the judge said.

He said McQuilling's mother was in court and he could see she was "horrified" when she saw the size of the knife.

The judge said he had jailed McQuilling for 34 months in June for robbery, possession of a blade and two counts of dealing Class A drugs and was not sure why the latest offence was not included in his sentencing exercise then.

He said given the totality of all offences taken together, the fact he was a youth in an adult prison which was "currently operating at about its maximum level" and allowing credit for McQuilling's guilty plea, a further four months would be appropriate.