A man with weapons in a rucksack who was tackled to the ground by shop staff-member in Kendal last year has been handed a four-month prison term, suspended for four months.
When police spoke to 25 year old Alastair McCallum near the town's M&S store on Library Road, they suspected he was with a shoplifter - to then find his bag contained an axe and a rounders bat.
McCallum - now of Lochgilphead, Argyll, tried to flee the scene but was "bravely tackled to the ground" by an assistant manager from the nearby Laura Ashley store.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing a chase ensue at around 8.45am on October 16th.
Peter Boyd - the Manager of the Elephant Yard Shopping Centre, witnessed the incident. He said: "A female Assistant Manager of Laura Ashley saw this large male running towards her.
"She ran at him, rugby tackled him down to ground in the middle of the road and he was quickly restrained."
Carlisle Crown Court heard how he later told police he was carrying the weapons for protection.
Having admitted two charges of possessing offensive weapons, McCallum was given a four-month prison sentence, suspended by Recorder Abigail Hudson for one year. The court heard he was making "excellent steps" to rid himself of a long-standing drugs problem.