A MAN who was driving around with two large machetes in his car has avoided prison despite the judge warning him that he cannot use his medical conditions as a get out of jail free card.

Luke Stringer, 24, of Havengore, Basildon, was arrested by police on September 30 last year after officers discovered two machetes in his vehicle when they stopped it in Vange.

Each machete had a blade of about two feet.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a bladed article.

The court heard that Stringer suffers from hydrocephalus, a condition that results in fluid on the brain, which causes him to be impulsive and make poor decisions. He also has ADHD.

Sentencing him at Basildon Crown Court yesterday, Judge Samantha Leigh said: “He cannot keep using his ADHD and other issues as justification. It is not a get out of jail free card.”

She also expressed cynicism at Stringer’s claims he was on his way to throw the machetes away.

She added: “I’m slightly dubious about the excuse given. It was late at night, there were others in the car.

“Common sense and 20 years of experience tells me that was not a man going to dump them in the woods.”

Despite concerns, Judge Leigh sentenced Stringer to 12 months in prison suspended for 24 months. She also imposed a curfew between 7pm and 6am for six months and a requirement that he must complete 60 days of rehabilitation activity requirement.

She said: “You are not someone who is highly convicted and it’s right to say that you do not have convictions of this kind on your record.

“In light of your circumstances and the fact that the weapons were not brandished the sentence will be suspended.” Stringer must also return to court to appear before judge Leigh for periodic reviews.

She added: “If you don’t attend the appointments and don’t come back to me I will sentence you to that 12 months. There won’t be any ‘I’ve been feeling unwell’ - you will go inside for 12 months.”