A THUG who chased two men down a busy road whilst swinging a foot long Samurai sword at them is facing jail.

Joe Black was spotted by a police officer pursuing two men at speed down North Station Road, Colchester.

Although he fled from the scene and disposed of the weapon in a nearby garden, the 20-year-old was later apprehended and charged with carrying an offensive weapon in public.

He admitted the charge at Colchester Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Philip Pearson, prosecuting, said: “A police officer was on duty in his vehicle and was making his way back to the police station at 3am on December 9.

“He saw a group of people running down North Station Road. Three males were running in the middle of the road.

“One of the males was chasing after the other two and swinging a large object around.

“It was later established this was a Samurai sword with a 12 inch blade.

“The officer followed the defendant down Market Close where he was seen to place the sword into the sheath and throw it into the front garden of a property.

“He was then arrested and the blade was later recovered by the police.”

Black, of Market Close, Colchester, has several previous convictions, including for grievous bodily harm in March 2016.

Mr Pearson added: “The Crown say the facts of the case amount to dangerous circumstances.

“Because of that, we say it is not suitable for Black to be sentenced in the magistrates’ court.”

Representing Black, Laura Austin, did not offer any mitigation at the hearing.

Magistrates declined jurisdiction over the case.

Black was released on unconditional bail until his sentencing at Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday, February 13.

A pre-sentence report will be compiled by the probation service.