Morpeth sword-wielding thug spared jail by judge
Sep 7 2010 by Andy Hughes, The Journal
A THUG who waited outside a college wielding a samurai sword has been spared jail.
Daniel Streener, 20, was seen holding the blade by a security guard outside Northumberland College in Ashington on March 11, Newcastle Crown Court heard yesterday.
When he realised he had been spotted, Streener jumped into a Vauxhall Corsa and sped away.
The security guard alerted police and Streener’s car was pulled over minutes later. Paul Rowland, prosecuting, said officers found two large samurai swords hidden under the passenger seat.
Streener said he carried the weapons for his own protection as “so many people” were after him.
While he was on bail for that offence, Streener broke into Parkside Middle School in Cramlington in the early hours of May 17 and attempted to steal lead flashing from the roof.
Streener, of Hebron Avenue, Morpeth, admitted being in possession of an offensive weapon and an unrelated offence of burglary.
However, Judge Beatrice Bolton gave him one last chance to stay out of jail and sentenced him to a community order for two years in which he has to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.
The judge told him: “If you carry weapons around in a public place, you will likely be sent to jail, even if you do not intend to use the weapons.
“There is absolutely no need to carry such weapons around to protect yourself. You have already spent 39 days in custody on remand and you now know what it’s like to be in Durham Prison. Hopefully, you have learnt your lesson.”
The court heard how the security guard at Northumberland College noticed Streener waiting outside with a group of young men.
Mr Rowland said: “He noticed one of the males was carrying a shiny object, which was a samurai sword.”
Streener was initially granted bail, but was arrested two months later when he broke into Parkside Middle School with a friend.
The pair activated the alarm and officers found them hiding in the school changing rooms at 1.50am. Lead flashing which had been taken from the roof was stashed in a wheelie bin.
Shaun Routledge, defending, said Streener had changed his attitude since experiencing prison for the first time.
Mr Routledge the court: “He tells me he was carrying the weapons for his own protection because he has so many people after him.”
