An Oldham man who was spotted wielding a machete causing a passerby to fear someone was going to be killed has been spared jail.

Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard Trey Meyers was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when he was spotted on Shaw Road with the weapon.

He appeared in court to be sentenced for possession of the item after confessing to the incident in July last year.

Prosecutor Gwen Henshaw revealed why the couple who saw him became so alarmed.

She said they were “going along the same road in the direction of Oldham.

“They noticed he was carrying a weapon along the street.

“They discussed between them what the weapon was.

“They soon found he was carrying a long machete.”

She said the husband “said he wanted to contact the police because he thought someone would get killed.”

The police arrived a short time later and Meyers had hidden the weapon in the grass.

When police approached them he said he wanted to report a theft but he was arrested.

He told officers he had the item for gardening purposes.

Representing Meyers, of Shaw Road in Royton, defence counsel Harriet Tighe said her client was previously of good character.

She said: “The defendant is an educated man, he has undertaken a number of BTEC qualifications, then went on to work with the Prince’s Trust.

“There are two references uploaded, they refer to the defendant as normally law abiding.

“He has been in gainful employment until recently, in the pandemic he lost that employment, he is still looking for work.”

She asked for any sentence of imprisonment to be suspended.

Judge Mark Ford agreed to this.

He said: “On the fourth of July you took it upon yourself to leave your address equipped with a machete.

“I have seen the photographs of that fierce looking weapon.”

He added the fact Meyers, 25, was under the influence of drugs and alcohol was an “aggravating feature” because people in this state often act with “catastrophic consequences.”

But he added: “I am satisfied on the basis of what I have read that you pose a low risk of reoffending and a low risk of causing harm to the public.”

He suspended the sentence of four months for 18 months, ordered him to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and attend at ten rehabilitation requirement activity days.