A man who “stupidly” took a knife with him into Newcastle city centre on the day of a recent planned protest and counter-demonstration is now serving his first prison sentence.

Jamie Durham was one of many people made subject of special stop and search powers deployed by Northumbria Police in a bid to deter any unrest on the city centre streets on the day of rival anti-immigration and anti-racism rallies, on Saturday, August 10.

The force was seeking to prevent any repeat of disturbances seen at many such events in towns and cities in the region and across the land, following the killing of three girls in Southport on July 29.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that amid a heavy police presence in the city centre, Durham was searched by officers near to Haymarket Bus Station, at about 10.30am that day.

Omar Ahmad, prosecuting, said the black-handled kitchen knife was found in a pocket of his back pack as were foil-lined bags often used by shop-lifters.

Durham claimed to have forgotten the knife was there, while it was noted by Judge Paul Sloan, The Recorder of Newcastle, that he was also wearing several layers of clothing when stopped.

The 23-year-old defendant, of Lort House, Shieldfield, Newcastle, admitted possession of a knife in public when he appeared before city magistrates days later.

His case was sent to the crown court for sentence.

Mr Ahmad told the sentencing hearing: “He was in possession of a bladed article, committed in circumstances where there was a risk of disorder.”

He said that at the time of his arrest, the defendant was on bail for an alleged incident of affray, involving the use of a bottle, committed in Newcastle on July 27.

Durham was also under investigation for making an alleged racist comment to a police officer, on July 29, last year.

Fiona Lamb, representing the defendant, told the court: “Can I say at the outset that he understands the position he is in, knowing the courts are taking this type of offence very seriously.

“He’s under no illusion as to the type of sentence that is likely to be imposed.

“He has described it as the ‘stupidest’ thing he has ever done.”

Miss Lamb said the defendant was unfamiliar with the criminal justice system, despite having other matters outstanding.

“He looked very lost at the position he was in when I spoke to him in the cells, earlier.”

Miss Lamb said the defendant told her he put the knife in his bag to prevent an aggressive ex-partner of his mother from getting his hands on it, as a preventative measure.

“He was not committing any anti-social behaviour, but it was the morning of the planned protest.”

Miss Lamb said the defendant left school at 14 and has had no employment since the age of 18, when he did some roofing work.

She said he has no issues with alcohol or drugs, despite occasionally using cannabis.

Miss Lamb added that the defendant had found it “sobering” being in HMP Durham on remand and was not looking forward to serving a prison sentence.

Judge Sloan told the defendant that he had offered no plausible explanation for having four layers of clothing on, on what was a sunny summer’s day.

“After the events of previous days, of which you will have been well aware, where incidents of widespread violence and disorder occurred, there were obvious concerns that similar violence should not flare-up in the city centre of Newcastle.

“As a result there was a very large police presence that day and among other powers they employed, stop and search was in force, so when you arrived in the city centre you were stopped and searched.

“It was obvious from what you said to the officers you were fully aware of the planned protests in Newcastle that day, albeit you claimed you were there passing through to go shopping in another location.

“Police found the kitchen knife and on arrest, you claimed you forgot it was there.

“In interview you made no reply and couldn’t provide an explanation as to why you were wearing four layers of clothing on a summer’s day, and you still haven’t provided provided a proper explanation for wearing that extent of clothing.”

Judge Sloan said the offence was committed in circumstances of a risk of serious disorder and the defendant would have been aware of that risk.

Despite the defendant’s previous good character, Judge Sloan said, “given the context in which this offences was committed”, he had to, “both punish and deter others from such offending”, and, therefore, only an immediate prison sentence was appropriate.

Passing an eight-month sentence he also made a deprivation and destruction order for both the knife and the bag in the back pack.

Northern Echo