A 20-YEAR-OLD avoided jail yesterday over arming himself with a “large, vicious” machete during an argument outside his house.

Ruairi Burke, of Sunnyside, Oxford, was convicted last month of one count of possessing an article with a blade or point in a public place on April 26 this year.

During his trial, prosecutor Simon Foster said he was arrested with the weapon at about 4.30am, after he was seen holding it during an argument with two men.

Mr Foster told the jury Burke had an altercation at about 2.30am with another man, Dayle Eugene, in the city centre.

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The barrister said the defendant then returned to his home in Sunnyside and armed himself with the weapon after being told Mr Eugene and another man were on their way.

When they arrived in a car, Burke left the house with the weapon and argued with them in the street, prompting them to leave.

Yesterday James Reilly, defending at Oxford Crown Court, said his client had been protecting his home and his family.

He said: “Those men are bullies.

“They tried to bully him in town and he stood up to them and they have not liked it.

“So they came to his house.”

Mr Reilly added Burke accepted he made a mistake, but was otherwise well-regarded by his community and had no previous convictions.

Recorder Antonio Bueno said the machete was “a large, vicious weapon, capable of causing the most appalling injuries” but he had been convinced not to impose an immediate prison sentence.

He told Burke he would treat the incident as “an aberration”.

He sentenced him to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, with a supervision requirement for 12 months.

He was also told to pay £850 costs and a £100 victims’ surcharge.

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