A FORMER crack cocaine dealer who terrorised a group of girls by bursting into Sidcup McDonald’s wielding a samurai sword has been jailed for two years.

Jason Shepherd got into a row with a group of teenagers who were gathered outside the fast-food outlet in Sidcup High Street at about 8.30pm on May 15.

The 22-year-old, who was a passenger in a car with two of his friends, returned around five minutes later armed with a four-inch bladed knife and told the girls “I’ll have you, I will cut you open” before saying “I will f****** run you all over”.

Shepherd was heard asking his friend in the car “have you got my baby?” before he went to his home in Mallard Walk to pick up the samurai sword.

A statement from one of the girls who was in McDonald’s when Shepherd stormed through the door was read out at Woolwich Crown Court yesterday (October 3).

Prosecutor John Coates said: “She noticed him holding something in his right hand that seemed to reflect in the light and heard someone shout ‘he’s got a sword’ and noticed the blade was about one to two metres in length.

“The handle was wrapped in some sort of cloth. She describes herself as being scared, shocked and completely petrified and the group she was with were hiding behind the counter.”

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The terrified teenager described Shepherd as “angry and aggressive” as he held the knife by his side and stared directly into her eyes before he turned round and walked out of the restaurant.

Police swooped on Sidcup town centre and Shepherd gave himself up to officers about 9.30pm.

The knife used to threaten the group was seized but the samurai sword was never recovered.

Defence counsel Clive Smith told the court: “Mr Shepherd says he was wishing the group of young people outside McDonald’s to enjoy their evening and they responded with some unsavoury language and Mr Shepherd overreacted in the circumstances.

“He accepts he went to his home address to get the samurai sword but nobody was directly threatened. He recognises they would have found his actions menacing.”

Shepherd pleaded guilty to affray and possessing an offensive weapon during a hearing at the same court in June.

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What the samurai sword may have looked like

On sentencing Shepherd, who has been remanded in custody since the incident, Recorder Adrian Lynch QC said: “The defendant was very abusive and made specific threats to frighten them, saying you would cut them.

“You returned home to pick up the samurai sword and entered McDonald’s with a samurai sword which was a terrifying experience for children who were in McDonald’s at that time.

“The fact the defendant went to get the samurai sword shows he was intent on being more terrifying.”

In 2011 Shepherd was caught selling crack cocaine during an undercover drugs operation by Bromley police in Beckenham and Penge and sentenced at Croydon Crown Court to two years detention in a young offenders’ institution.

Recorder Lynch QC says Shepherd will only serve half of his sentence and the six months he has spent in custody will be deducted.