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A former Blind Date contestant has been jailed for possessing a samurai sword, cocaine and a crossbow - along with other offensive weapons.

Jamie Hayden, of West Mersea in Essex, was handed an 18-month stretch behind bars at Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday.

Hayden, 38, appeared on the hit dating show Blind Date in 1999 and host Cilla Black attempted to set him up with one of three women, reports EssexLive .

Then aged 19 he picked Jodie from north Wales as his date. The pair were flown to Greek island Crete for a romantic getaway.

(Image: EssexLive/ WS)

On the show, he said he wanted to be a millionaire by the time he turned 30, and his ideal woman was "modelistic".

But at Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday, the hearing heard how in the early hours of July 15, 2017, a Samurai sword, a crossbow, kebab skewer, hunting knife, a wooden mallet and two foot claw hammer were seized from Hayden's Range Rover.

Cocaine and another samurai sword and crossbow were later discovered at his home.

Judge Charles Gratwicke said: "In the car, officers discovered a two foot claw hammer, a hunting knife, a kebab skewer, a wooden-handled mallet and a crossbow.

"I accept that they were not there to cause harm but they were there.

"You were arrested in connection with these matters, in the course of which you made clear you were looking for someone."

Hayden had been out in his car that evening looking for his partner, who he was concerned had been taking drugs.

Once police had escorted him home, his partner arrived back at the house in a distressed state.

Judge Gratwicke continued: "The police and yourself returned to your home and there your partner arrived back.

"She was erratic no doubt because of what she had heard about the vehicle, and maybe because she had been taking drugs."

The very next day on July 16, Hayden was arrested for affray after storming into a property armed with an iron bar, which Judge Gratwicke said was "terrifying" for the occupants.

"Your behaviour during those two days was disgraceful," he said. "Only a custodial sentence will suffice.

"I have considered the papers in this case with some care."

He then handed Hayden the 18-month sentence, of which he has already served nine months on remand.

Hayden admitted possessing cocaine, possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and possessing a knife in a public place.

He was also sentenced for four counts of wilfully neglecting a child to cause unnecessary injury.