Man jailed after threatening staff at a bar in Birkenhead with a machete

A man who threatened staff at a nightclub in Birkenhead with a machete has been jailed.

Luke Browne, 31, of Paterson Street, Birkenhead, was sentenced yesterday (Thursday 6 January) at Liverpool Crown Court after being found guilty of possession of a bladed weapon and breaching a suspended sentence.

Browne received 18 months for carrying the machete and a further six months for a breach of a suspended sentence, to be served consecutively.

He was also issued with a criminal behaviour order which prevents him from entering parts of Birkenhead town centre and remaining in any shops or businesses when asked to leave by staff within Wirral for five years.

At around 2.40am on Monday 25 October 2021, following a verbal altercation with door staff at the Platinum Lounge in Birkenhead, Browne threatened them with a large machete he was carrying in his trousers and then fled the scene.

Following extensive CCTV and witness enquiries carried out by officers, footage was obtained which showed Browne brandishing the machete at the door staff.

Browne was later arrested on Wednesday 8 December and charged.

He pleaded guilty of possession of a bladed weapon yesterday at an earlier court hearing.

Inspector Peter Rexwinkel said: “Browne’s reckless actions could have left staff at Platinum with serious injuries.

“No one should be threatened or targeted with such dangerous weapons when they are just doing their job.

“Carrying knives and dangerous weapons can and does have devastating consequences to victims and our community. I hope this result shows that the force is committed to combatting knife crime and bringing the people responsible to justice.

“I am pleased that the Court has recognised the severity of the offence by imposing a custodial sentence and also preventing Browne from entering parts of Birkenhead town centre and endangering our community.”

To report any knife crime or the use of dangerous weapons, DM us on Twitter via @MerPolCC or message us on Facebook at ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’. Alternatively, call 101 or contact the independent charity @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously. In an emergency always call 999.