A man said to be ‘doing well to address his problems’ was found with a machete in Swindon town centre.
25-year-old Leon Wilson was stopped by police officers responding to reports of a male with a blade in the Regent Circus area on 1 November last year.
Prosecutor Kate Prince told Swindon Magistrates’ Court on 21 December that the defendant was detained at around 2pm – in broad daylight.
The bench was told that he is currently serving a two-year community for an assault in a domestic setting and is about to start the Building Better Relationships Programme.
Probation officer Michelle James said Wilson was compliant with face-to-face contact, has shown remorse for his actions and started to make some progress.
She said that he is still to address his ADHD and cannabis use, but she asked the court to spare him a prison sentence so he can continue his work with the probation service.
Defence solicitor Moses Uzodima-Tawo said his client has “lots of problems that are currently being addressed”, adding that he is “going very well”. He asked for a suspended sentence.
Wilson, of Wakefield Close in Freshbrook, Swindon, was handed a six-month prison term suspended for two years. He must also pay £85 costs and a £154 surcharge.
