A MAN who recently converted to the Muslim faith took an AXE as he went to confront his Christian father over "religious differences", a court heard.

Police said Clayton McKenna told them he was planning to order his father to "bow down to him", but he disputes that.

3 Clayton McKenna was on his way to his dad’s home in South Tyneside when police intercepted him, but later insisted he was not going to hurt anyone Credit: ncjMedia

3 Police said McKenna told them he was planning to order his father to "bow down to him" - which he disputes Credit: ncjMedia

The 22-year-old broke into his mother’s shed, his parents are separated, and took the axe.

The court heard he gave conflicting accounts about what he was planning and why, and he referred to religion in his reasoning.

He was on his way to his dad’s home in South Tyneside when police intercepted him, but later insisted he was not going to hurt anyone.

Sentencing him at Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Penny Moreland said: “You made a series of statements at the scene to the officer and then in interview as to what you intended to do and what was in your mind.

“They were confused and contradictory.

“Those statements included a suggestion you were going to use violence against your father, amongst a number of reasons you said was because he was a Christian and you were a recent convert to Islam.

“I am concerned that there is no real explanation for your confused thinking that morning, nor for those threats made, even though they appear to have been without substance.”

Police were called in the early hours of July 18 after reports he was with an axe.

Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw told the court what happened: “Police were made aware he might be on his way to his father’s address in South Tyneside, which indeed he was. He was found by the police in possession of the axe.

"He made comments about his religious beliefs and those of his father.”

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McKenna claimed he was carrying the axe for his own protection and insisted he was not intending to harm anyone.

Mr Wardlaw said: “He gave conflicting accounts about what he would do with the axe but said he had no intention of causing injury to anybody.”

Judge Moreland said: “He referred to religious differences, although he said he would not hurt anyone, he also said he would hurt someone.

“Are the Crown entirely satisfied there was never any intention to cause harm as a result of the difference?”

Mr Wardlaw said the matter had been considered by senior CPS lawyers and the prosecution accepted he did not intend to cause harm.

This led to the more serious charge of possessing an offensive weapon was dropped, and McKenna pleaded guilty to having a bladed article, as well as criminal damage to the shed and possessing a small amount of cannabis.

McKenna, of Kingsland Square, Downhill, Sunderland, who has spent several months in custody, was given a three-year community order with rehabilitation and supervision.

3 McKenna claimed he was carrying the axe for his own protection and insisted he was not intending to harm anyone Credit: ncjMedia

David Comb, defending, said he was in a “mixed up frame of mind at the time” and was stressed about the end of a relationship, moving to a new area and the loss of a job.

Judge Moreland said: “He says the argument was about a feeling he was not supported in the choice he had made.”

Mr Comb replied: “His mother’s partner is a person of the Muslim faith and is originally from Turkey.

“He took the decision to follow his stepfather into the Muslim faith, not very long before this.

“He stands by that decision. The main attraction he felt towards the religion at a time he was feeling lonely is he was welcomed there, the people he met were accepting and loving.

“He doesn’t know very much about religious doctrine. He has been going to prayers in prison.”

“He doesn’t really understand why he was angry. It was really a delayed bad adolescent episode in relation to his father.

“He was very frustrated and angry with him about lots of different things and not really thinking straight.”

Judge Moreland said: “A police officer says he was on his way to his dad’s to ask him to bow down to him.”

Mr Comb said: “He does not agree he was going to ask his father to bow down but he was going to discuss his differences with his father.”

Last year shocking pictures revealed the bloody aftermath of an axe attack on a female police officer.

And last month a video emerged of the moment a young woman strolled into a suburban supermarket with an axe and started hacking into two customers waiting to be served.

In a separate incident - this is the moment five raiders armed with axes and crowbar attack man in burglary in Manchester

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