Teen jailed for afternoon 'zombie knife' chase

A teenager who chased people with a 'zombie knife' through a busy town centre in broad daylight has been jailed for two and a half years.

Zak Paya, 19, of Market Place, Dereham, Norfolk, had previously admitted affray after chasing people through Great Yarmouth in April.

During a sentencing hearing at Norwich Crown Court, Her Honour Judge Moore said Paya had a history of "using violence and carrying a weapon."

In a statement read out to the court, one of the victims said she had become paranoid, could not sleep and had stopped going to school.

The incident happened at 12:40 BST on 14 April when Paya and two others were walking near St George's Park.

Prosecuting, Timothy Fulford told the court that another group thought they recognised them, and when one member shouted, Paya lifted a knife out of his waistband.

One of the victims described it as a 'zombie knife', and said Paya ran at the group and swung the machete towards one person's throat.

Witnesses also said the knife used was 40-45cm (16-18in) in length.

A statement from one of the victims, read out in court, said she struggled to sleep and had stopped going to school following the incident.

"I now won't go out without my mum, as I'm paranoid about going out on my own," she said.

The court was told Paya, who appeared via video link from custody, has 20 previous convictions for 45 offences.

Defending, Ian James told the court Paya had an upbringing that "was not to be desired" and said he had used the knife to "scare off" people who were following him.

Judge Moore told the court that the fact Paya had previously threatened someone with a weapon "makes it more serious".

She said she would bear in mind his age and the difficult start in life he had, but sentenced him to 30 months in prison, adding: "If you continue, sentences will get longer.

"When knives are carried, knives can be used—and when knives are used, lives can be lost," she said.

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.