A MAN who brandished a vicious medieval-style mace in a Blackburn street has been jailed.

The homemade weapon, a baton with nails and razor blades sticking out at various angles, was found in the flat Jake Walsh, 21, shares with his girlfriend Coral Langford, 19.

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Preston Crown Court heard the flat, in Denville Road, Blackburn, had been broken into and a BMX had been stolen on December 30.

The following day Walsh saw a man riding a bike, which he thought was the stolen BMX, outside the house, followed by two other men.

Walsh went out and ran after the two men while he brandished the mace.

He later told police one of the men, Hassan Khan, had pulled a machete from his pants and started waving it over his head in an aggressive manner.

The other man was Mr Khan’s brother, Walsh claimed.

The court heard Langford also gave a statement supporting her boyfriend’s account.

The brothers were arrested and held for six hours in a police station for questioning on New Years’ Eve.

But CCTV showed neither of the men appeared to be carrying anything and were taking a defensive stance.

Walsh later admitted he had lied as he wanted the men to be given bail conditions to stay out of his street.

Langford also admitted lying and both pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.

Walsh also pleaded guilty to affray and appeared at Preston Crown Court to be sentenced.

Judge Jonathan Gibson said: “This was a weapon that could be used to cause absolute terror, could be used to cause puncture wounds, blindness, slash and cause grave disfigurement.

“It is a truly grotesque weapon and Jake Walsh had it in his house, ready to engage when it suited him.

“He did this on New Year’s Eve in broad daylight against these two people, who really had absolutely nothing to do with anything except to walk down the street.

“If, in fact, they did have any connection to the taking of this bike, this is a case of taking the law into your own hands and it is an extremely serious offence.”

Judge Gibson handed Walsh a 28-month prison term. He will sentence Langford next week.