Axe accused 'wanted Queen photo'

Mr Bleazard is also accused of breaching an Asbo

A man accused of carrying an axe in a crowd of people waiting for a royal visit has told a jury he had only gone to take the Queen's photograph.

Daniel Bleazard was arrested as crowds waited for the Queen's arrival in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in May.

Members of the public alerted police because he seemed to be pushing towards the front, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Mr Bleazard, 34, of Adelphi Road, Huddersfield, denies charges of having an article with a blade or a point.

He also denies breaching an Anti-social Behaviour Order (Asbo).

Chop wood

After Mr Bleazard was pointed out to police on 24 May an officer spotted what he thought was a pick-axe handle in his carrier bag, which he appeared to be trying to conceal under his arm.

The court heard how, as he was led to a police van, he said: "I just came to see the Queen".

Stephen Wood, prosecuting, showed the jury an axe with a 3ft (1m) long wooden handle that was found in Mr Bleazard's bag.

Giving evidence in court, Mr Bleazard said he needed the axe to chop wood at his home because his chainsaw had broken and he had gone to retrieve it from where he left it in a friend's garden.

He said: "I knew there was a visit in the town centre, the royal family. I had a camera phone and I just wanted to get a photograph and then I was going home."

'Theft kit'

Asked by Mr Wood why he was pushing to the front of the crowd, he said: "So I could get a photograph. I was only there for that."

Mr Bleazard also faces another charge of having an article with a blade or a point and one of going equipped for theft.

The charges relate to an incident in June when police stopped him in the early hours of the morning carrying a range of items, including a Stanley knife.

Mr Wood described them as a "tool kit for theft".

Mr Bleazard told the jury he had just gone out to buy matches and the items happened to be in his coat when he put it on.

He said he would use some of them for carpet-fitting.

The trial continues.