Man used Samurai sword for 'protection'

A man armed himself with a Samurai sword for "protection" during a night of violence in a Black Country town centre in which a father of two was killed, a court heard.

Richard Lisseman claimed to have seen two armed men running down Lichfield Street, Bilston, before rushing to get the weapon. Tragedy struck after a large number of people were involved in a disturbance.

The incident happened outside the town's Spread Eagle pub on July 10, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

Prosecutor Miss Helena Miller said: "It began with an assault on a male that had nothing to do with this defendant who then went to a nearby address and armed himself with a Samurai sword.

"Whilst he was away three people were stabbed and one person was fatally wounded. That was over by the time he returned but he was arrested after being observed with the sword tucked into his clothing."

Lisseman, aged 27, of Clinton Road in Bilston, claimed to have drunk 15 pints that night. He admitted possessing cocaine and an offensive weapon.

Jobless Lisseman was given a nine-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work.

Father-of-two Tom Berry, a 34-year-old plasterer from Bilston, was stabbed to death after leaving a wedding reception at Bilston Town Hall to have a cigarette.

Ricky Shaw, aged 22, has been charged with murder.