A Gateshead man armed himself with a sword and patrolled the streets seeking revenge after being robbed of his gold chain. David Hoyle was seen walking with purpose down a residential street, shouting 'rats' while carrying the weapon.
Hoyle then handed the sword to his then-partner, who threw it over a garden wall before police arrived. Upon arrest, Hoyle claimed he had been robbed by a man wielding the sword, who then discarded it. However, a judge dismissed his claims, stating that while Hoyle may have been robbed, he likely retrieved the weapon from home and went out looking for revenge.
On Monday, Hoyle, of Newton Street, Gateshead, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court for sentencing on charges of possession of a blade and possession of cannabis. The 43-year-old had pleaded guilty to the offences.
The court heard that on October 21, 2024, Hoyle and his then-partner were walking on Hedley Street in Gateshead. Hoyle, carrying a sword and a small amount of cannabis, passed the weapon to the woman, who threw it over a wall.
Prosecutor Matthew Hopkins said: 'CCTV showed the defendant with a sword in his hand, shouting about rats and walking with purpose. The defendant's account in evidence was that he was robbed of a gold chain in the street by a man wielding the sword. The robber discarded it and the defendant took it home and then left the house with the sword because of adrenaline. He denied he was going to confront anyone with the sword.'
Mr Hopkins added that regardless of ownership, Hoyle was still walking the streets with a blade. The court noted he had 17 previous convictions for 23 offences and was subject to a suspended sentence for dangerous driving, which he had breached twice.
Defence lawyer Peter Sabiston said Hoyle missed his father's funeral due to being in prison and has been working in the kitchen while incarcerated. He added: 'He has shown he can keep out of trouble for a considerable period of time. He says he wouldn't have harmed anyone with that weapon.'
Sentencing Hoyle, Recorder Geraldine Kelly KC said: 'It was claimed by you that the sword was not yours and you disarmed an attacker of it. I accept you may have been attacked that evening but your evidence of how you came to be in possession of the sword was incredible and you were lying about how you got hold of that sword. I am satisfied you got that sword from your house and chose to go out in public looking for revenge of those who attacked you earlier.'
Hoyle was jailed for 25 months.
