A DUDLEY man who armed himself with a meat cleaver after being "terrorised" by a gang of youths has been jailed for 22 weeks.

Kyle Roberts who chased after one of the youths while carrying the "terrifying" weapon later told police officers the gang had caused him considerable grief.

Stephen Hamblett, for Roberts, maintained his client simply wanted to scare the young man but he accepted he had gone too far in his actions.

Roberts, aged 26, complained gang members had damaged his parked car, broken windows in his home and he claimed one youth had been armed with a knife.

But Wolverhampton Crown Court was told the youth had produced the weapon after Roberts had gone into his house to pick up the meat cleaver which he angrily raised over his head.

Roberts, of Hereford Road, admitted making threats while armed with the weapon and Judge Simon Ward ruled only an immediate jail term was appropriate for the crime.

He said it was clear Roberts had "overstepped the mark" as he stressed the production of such a weapon on the streets would not be tolerated.

After Roberts entered his guilty plea to the charge it was felt a special court hearing should take place to determine just what happened on the day of the incident.

But after discussions between the parties it was agreed the hearing was not necessary and Roberts was immediately sentenced by the judge.