Teenager told police he planned to harm people after going into Shadwell Sainsbury's store armed with a pick axe

Harrison Lees told police after he was arrested that he had the weapon because he planned to harm someone.

Leeds Crown Court heard heard Lees went into the store at Slaid Hill Court, Shadwell, on August 15 this year carrying the pick axe and appeared to anxious and agitated.

Katy Varlow, prosecuting, said police were contacted and the store manager watched Lees until officers arrived.

Lees put his hands in his pockets and turned away from the officers when they arrived.

Miss Varlow said Lees then took the weapon out of his trousers and the officers felt it necessary to draw their tasers.

Lees dropped the pick axe when he saw the red dots from the tasers on his chest.

After he was arrested Lees said he had walked for ten minutes from his home carrying the weapon to the store and intended to harm someone along the way.

Miss Varlow said: "He said he went to Sainsbury's and he was sorry but he was also not sorry because he could now get some help."

Lees, 19, of Elmhurst Close, Shadwell, pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon.

He has previous convictions for assault and public order offences.

Mr Flint said Lees had been suffering with mental health issues and urged the court to consider imposing a suspended sentence so his client could access help.

Lees was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to take part in a 21-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a thinking skills programme.

Judge Simon Batiste said: "You are 19 years of age and you are getting yourself a bad record for violence.

"You went into Sainsbury's with a pick axe in your possession and allowed it to be seen by a number of people.

"You were saying at the time that you were going to attack somebody because you wanted help.

"On the face of it this is a very serious matter."

The judge said he was prepared to suspended the prison sentence due to the amount of time Lees had already spent in custody and to give him the opportunity to receive help to address his mental health issues."