A MAN who went on a rampage with a pickaxe has been given a curfew.

Blackburn magistrates heard Keith Wood, 43, smashed windows at The Mount in Whalley Road, Accrington, and the town’s Jobcentre.

Magistrates praised police officers for their bravery during the incident, which happened at around 10.5oam on July 21.

The court heard one of the officers, PC Graham Hartley, narrowly missed a serious head injury while trying to restrain the pickaxe-waving Wood.

Wood, of Marlborough Road, Accrington, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

He was given a nine-month rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to pay £300 compensation.

Speaking after the case, a police spokesman said: “Magistrates have praised the bravery of two of our Neighbourhood Policing Team in Hyndburn after a man went on a rampage with a pickaxe in Accrington, smashing windows in an NHS clinic and the Job Centre.

“On Friday,July 21, at around 10.50 in the morning, we got a call from the team at Mount Mental Health NHS Clinic on Whalley Road reporting a man had just walked past and smashed one of their windows with what looked like an axe.

“A short time later staff at the Job Centre on Oak Street also called 999 to say a man had smashed nine windows with a pickaxe causing real distress to both them and other members of the public who saw the offender calmly walk off with the weapon still in his hand.

“Patrols were immediately dispatched to try and locate him. PC Graham Hartley and PCSO James Southworth from the Hyndburn Neighbourhood Policing Team were quickly on scene and saw the offender walking along Union Street near the roundabout still waving the pickaxe around.

“PC Hartley knew he had to take immediate action and decided to restrain the man in order to keep people safe. A struggle ensued with Graham narrowly escaping serious head injuries.

“A 43-year-old man from Accrington was finally disarmed and subsequently arrested and charged. He appeared before Blackburn magistrates and was convicted of criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.”