A man has been jailed after he was caught driving around town with a samurai sword on the back seat of his car.

Scott Davey, of Mornington Road, Loughton, was jailed for six weeks at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on Friday (July 21), after officers found the blade during a search on his car.

The 40-year-old was pulled over in Highwood Lane, Loughton, at around 12.30am the previous day (Thursday, July 20), where police discovered the sword on the back seat of his Ford Focus.

While Davey was being arrested, he also made racially-charged comments that were deemed could cause distress.

He admitted one count of possessing and offensive weapon and one count of racially aggravated harassment.

As well as his jail sentence, he was also ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge, £85 costs and a further fine of £80 for comments made during his arrest.

Between Monday, July 17 and Saturday, July 22, Essex Police ran Operation Sceptre, a scheme aimed at cracking down on offenders who carry and use knives and other bladed weapons.

  • Information about knife crime can be shared with police by calling 101, or via Crimestoppers anonymously on: 0800 555 111. If there is an immediate threat of violence, the public is asked to dial 999.