Youth charged with sword offences

A teenager who allegedly threatened police with a samurai sword has been charged with a series of offences in County Durham.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested on Monday after an incident in Chester-le-Street on Sunday evening.

He has been charged with two counts of criminal damage and one count of affray, a Durham Police spokesman said.

The youth will appear before Peterlee Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

The spokesman said he surrendered himself just before midnight on Monday at an address in the nearby village of Bournmoor.

He was also charged with burglary which related to an alleged break-in at an address in Fence Houses, Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, earlier in April.