Stephen French had a machete at The Cricketers Arms pub, Redditch

Stephen French, of Manor Road, Studley, had been drinking when he took the machete to the Cricketers Arms pub, Beoley Road West, on July 17 this year. 

Mark Hambling, prosecuting, said the 66-year-old was stopped by police in the pub at 7pm, when the machete was discovered on him. 

The prosecutor said it had been a bit of "bravado" with no one threatened with the machete. 

COURT: Stephen French leaving Worcester Magistrates Court (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

Mr Hambling added French had no previous convictions on his record. 

Will Harrison, defending, said French had entered a "timely guilty plea" to the offence of possessing a knife blade/sharp pointed article in a public place. 

Mr Harrison explained that a family member of French's had "some sort of trouble with an unidentified person", so French took the ornamental machete out and left the property to deal with it. 

"He had no idea who this person is, where they could be, with no way to identify them at all," he solicitor said.

"He decides to go back to the pub to have another drink.

"It is a complete moment of madness."

PUB: Cricketers Arms pub in Redditch (Image: Google)

Sentencing him Peter Hayes, deputy district judge, said he was sure French would have heard in the press that the issue of knife crime was continuing to increase. 

He said the seriousness was reflected in how courts were dealing with these cases. 

French was jailed for six months, and suspended for 18 months. 

Under the suspended sentence French has to complete six months of alcohol treatment.

He also has to do 120 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

French was ordered to pay costs of £185 and victim surcharge of £154.

French's offer to pay the total, £339, at a rate of £40 per month was accepted by the judge.

The judge warned French. if he committed any offence in the next 18 months he would return to court and would risk going to jail. 

"I hope and expect not to see you again," the judge added.

The case was heard at Worcester Magistrates Court on August 24.