A man who'd been on a "drugs binge" chased people through a Durham car park with a knife after being seen rooting through bins.
Callum Goodwin was seen acting in a bizarre manner by passers-by at the Riverside Car Park in Durham in the early hours of September 18. The 29-year-old was seen "rooting around in bins" before he shouted at the people to "get out of his car park". Goodwin then chased after them with a blade.
Later that same day, Goodwin, of no fixed address, was seen acting "erratically" in the city centre while in possession of a knife and a rolling pin. He was then tackled to the ground by members of the public before being arrested by police.
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Goodwin appeared at Durham Crown Court this week to be sentenced for two counts of affray, possession of a bladed article and possessing an offensive weapon. He had pleaded guilty to the charges at a previous hearing.
Annelise Haugstad, prosecuting, said that a group of people were walking back to their vehicle at the multi-storey carpark in the early hours of the morning when they saw Goodwin. She said: "The defendant started shouting at them to get out of his car park. One man turned to see the defendant shouting aggressively but didn't know why.
"The defendant had been rooting around in bins and waste collection. He rushed to a bag and retrieved a bladed article which couldn't be seen clearly. He rushed towards the people who ran away fearing for their safety."
The court heard that Goodwin was captured on CCTV, but he was unable to be located and went on to commit further offences later that same day, when more incidents were reported to police about a man acting "erratically" in the city centre. Ms Haugstad said: "Shortly after 3pm the defendant was seen walking along Saddler Street with a rolling pin and a bladed article with his arms raised, walking aggressively and looking intimidating. He was walking towards a crowd of people waving the article."
The court was told that members of the public showed "clear concern" with families and small children all witnessing the scene. Goodwin, who had 24 previous convictions for 44 offences, did not specifically threaten anyone, but he was eventually taken to the floor by two men and who restrained him with the help of a third until police arrived.
Sam Faulks, defending, said Goodwin's behaviour was the result of "drugs and binging on drugs". He said: "The consequences are he acted erratically in Durham city centre and he has no recollection. He is really very sorry about that. He realises how incredibly dangerous and stupid his behaviour has been."
Mr Faulks added that Goodwin was a father who was brought up in and around drugs as his parents were dealers. He said Goodwin had worked for five years at Toys R Us before the business went bust and he lost his job.
Sentencing Goodwin, Recorder Tom Moran jailed him for 16 months.
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