Sandbach man jailed after walking through a pub he was barred from with a machete

A 32-year-old man from Sandbach has been jailed after admitting walking through a pub he was barred from with a machete.

Gavin McLean, of Belmont Avenue, committed the offence shortly before 11am on Thursday 17 January.

It was one of several occasions he had gone into The George since being barred from the pub on Sandbach High Street on Saturday 15 December.

On some of those occasions he displayed threatening language and behaviour towards the manager of the pub.

McLean was arrested at his home on the day he took the machete into The George. The bladed weapon was found inside the property.

He was subsequently charged with possessing a bladed article in a public place and putting the manager of the pub in fear of violence.

McLean pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced at Chester Crown Court yesterday, Wednesday 15 May.

He was jailed for 15 months and ordered to pay a £140 victim surcharge.

McLean was also handed an indefinite restraining order.

Police Constable Mark Cook said: “McLean persisted to go to the pub and put its manager in fear of violence despite being barred from entering the premises.

“This culminated in him going to The George with a 2’ long machete hanging from his belt.

“The manager of the pub was upstairs in the office at the time and McLean did not take the machete out of its sheath.

“But the fact that he was walking around with a machete at a pub he was barred from in December, and has since displayed threatening language and behaviour at, understandably scared a woman who was working behind the bar and left her shaken up.

“The police were called and after searching for McLean officers located him and the machete at his home.

“He was subsequently arrested and charged I hope that the custodial sentence that he has now been handed from the courts deters others from committing similar offences, and that it sends out a strong message that knife crime will not be tolerated.”

Detective Inspector Claire Jesson added: “At Cheshire Constabulary we are committed to doing all we can to tackle knife crime.

“We will respond robustly to any knife related incidents and ensure that anyone found to be carrying a knife, or committing a knife related offence, is brought to justice.