Newcastle man caught with knife in park after ringing police to report another armed male

A man was caught carrying a knife in a Tyneside park - after calling police to report another male in possession of a blade in the same area.

Matthew Temple dialled 999 at midnight to tell them there was an armed man on a bike riding around Walker Park, in Walker, and making threats. However, the 35-year-old also conceded that he too may be carrying a weapon, a court was told.

The police arrived at the scene and no man on a bike was found but Temple, who was on a suspended sentence, was spoken to by police and searched. Temple, of Walker Park Gardens, also in Walker, was found to be in possession of a kitchen knife and has now been given a second suspended sentence after he admitted having a bladed article during a hearing at Newcastle Magistrates' Court.

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Glenda Beck, prosecuting, said police were called to Walker Park by Temple at around midnight on November 4. Mrs Beck continued: "The caller said there was a male on a bike making threats.

"He said the male was in possession of a knife and possibly an axe. Officers arrived at the scene and spoke with the defendant, who was waiting outside the park. They did an area search and couldn't find anyone on a bike.

"The defendant was compliant and said he was carrying a knife. He was searched and a kitchen knife with a 4.5ins blade was found. The defendant was arrested and taken to Forth Banks and made a no-comment interview."

The court heard that Temple had a previous conviction for possession of a weapon from 2010 and had was given an 18-month suspended sentence back in August last year, which he was in breach of. Kash Khan, defending, said Temple had armed himself with the blade to warn-off the other male.

"The male on the bike is abusing him and calling him nasty names," Mr Khan continued. "Mr Temple rings the police and tells them about this man and admits he has also got a knife on him. He's never produced the knife or threatened the other male with it."

Temple was given a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and must do 100 hours of unpaid work.