Teenager used machete to frighten binman

A teenager threatened a binman with a machete because he refused to take away his rubbish as it contained the wrong type of waste, a court heard.

Tyrone Sadler, aged 19, was in his front garden when Alfie Leake approached him while on his rounds.

But Mr Leake spotted wood and garden waste inside his rubbish bin and told Sadler he could not take it.

He said he "risked action" from bosses if he removed it from the house in Dora Street, Pleck.

Sadler swore and accused Mr Leake of having an attitude problem before demanding he collect the rubbish.

When the binman refused, Sadler walked into his house and returned with the machete, which had a 2ft blade, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday.

Mr Ian Windridge, prosecuting, said Sadler lifted the weapon above his head, prompting Mr Leake to seek refuge in his lorry.

The teenager, now of Sussex Avenue, Wednesbury, admitted using threatening words and behaviour and having an article with a blade following the drama, which happened at around 10.30am on August 4.

Mr Andrew Molloy, defending, said Sadler understood that the victim was a "public servant going about his business who should be able to do so without the risk of violence".

The barrister added: "His intention was to threaten or intimidate, rather than to use the weapon."

Judge Michael Dudley said: "People who go out in public armed with any sort of weapon usually lose their liberty.

"When I looked at this case, it seemed to me that the time had come when you had to go away.

"I'm just persuaded that I can avoid sending you to a young offenders' institute."

He sentenced him to a community order with two years of supervision, 150 hours of community work and a three-month curfew banning him from leaving home from 8pm to 6am.