A Birmingham man who terrorised the city by brandishing an axe in public has been jailed for 18 months.

Rinemo Burrowes, 22, of Chatham Road, was captured on CCTV on 19th June (2016) running through Birmingham New Street train station holding the weapon, while police officers chasing him and ordering him to stop.

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At one point a brave passerby slammed Burrowes into a wall at the top of steps leading to the Bullring shopping centre before he wriggled free and ran off again with officers in pursuit.

He was eventually Tasered by an officer and arrested.

Burrowes appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on charges of possessing an offensive weapon and resisting arrest. He had earlier claimed he had been taking the axe to his mother's house to be sharpened. He later admitted the charges and was jailed.

PC Rob Kelly from British Transport Police said: "Burrowes claimed he was taking the axe to his mother's house for sharpening, so he could make a bed frame at home. He was given numerous opportunities to offer an explanation at the scene, which he never did.

"Instead, he chose to run off from us – carrying his weapon through a busy city centre – and was also seen reaching for it when officers tried to stop him. With previous convictions for burglary and robbery, all involving a weapon, we suspect Burrowes' intentions for carrying the axe were not entirely innocent.

"While we are extremely grateful to the member of public who intervened, this is not something we would advise people do because, as this incident shows, you never know what a fleeing suspect might have on them. Thankfully on this occasion, nobody was hurt and the public should be reassured swift action by our officers resulted in an armed criminal being taken off our streets."