DAYTIME shoppers screamed in terror as they saw a man with an axe chasing another man in Worcester city centre, a court heard.

Martin Coffey has been jailed after he admitted having the axe as an offensive weapon in the Trinity at around 4pm on October 24 this year.

Tarik Shakoor, prosecuting, told Worcester Crown Court Coffey was seen by people in the city, including a police officer, as he chased the man following an earlier argument.

He then got into a car and drove through Trinity Street and St Swithin's Street as other police officers were called to the scene.

Coffey got out in the Cross where he was cornered by the police in a bookmakers shop and arrested.

Judge Robert Juckes, QC, said there had been screaming and shouting from people in the city centre, including children, who had seen Coffey with the weapon.

Coffey, aged 22, of Clee Avenue, Kidderminster, also pleaded guilty to a public order offence and was given a total jail sentence of eight months.

Kevin Batch, defending, said Coffey had a full time role as a carer for his wheelchair bound father.

A pre-sentence report presented to the court said he had been excluded from school and had difficulties with literacy and numeracy.

Two days before the incident he had been involved in an argument over a girl with the man he was chasing, who has not been identified, the court heard.

Judge Juckes said: "It must have been a truly terrifying sight for anyone who saw you chasing someone through the streets in Worcester with an axe in your hand," he told Coffey.

He said the offence could only be marked by an immediate jail sentence.