A 44-year-old man has pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon after he was seen with an axe tucked into his waistband in a pub in Hampshire.
Brett Burgess, of Peppercombe Avenue, Exeter appeared at Exeter Magistrates’ Court where he admitted having the axe in a public place.
The prosecution said Burgess had been telling other customers about the weapon and at one point lifted his shirt to show it to someone.
CCTV later captured him throwing the axe into a bin. It was recovered shortly afterwards.
The prosecution said the offence was aggravated by his attempt to dispose of the axe.
Mr Nunn, mitigating, said Burgess had been staying at a Travelodge that night for work and had tools and equipment stored in his van. He had “too much to drink” and had spent the evening with football fans he met while out, but was later assaulted by them and left bleeding.
Mr Nunn said Burgess went to his van to get something that would scare off anyone else who might try to harm him. He returned to the pub with the axe tucked into his waistband, but did not brandish it or remove it.
The court heard he was upset, intoxicated and had made a poor decision.
Burgess previously served a prison sentence in 2015 for possession with intent to supply, and was released on licence in 2017. He is married with five children and runs his own groundwork business. His lawyer said he had “turned his life around” and the incident was out of character.
Magistrates adjourned the case until May 7 for a pre‑sentence report from probation. Burgess was granted unconditional bail.
This story was produced via the Police & Crime Commissioner’s Criminal Justice Court Reporting scheme.
