Paranoid drug man from Telford had knife in street
A man who ran down a street carrying an eight-inch knife while high on cocaine gave himself up to the police because he thought he was being chased by killers and wanted to make a "cry for help", a court heard.
Danny Clive Smith, 24, suffered from mental health problems according to his solicitor Mr Paul Nicholas, who told magistrates at Telford that his client was seeking treatment.
Smith, of Blews Hill Court, Dawley, Telford, had admitted possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and harassment without violence at a previous hearing.
Prosecuting, Mr John Peel said that on November 17 Smith had called 999 from his mobile saying that he was being chased and thought people were going to kill him.
When a police car caught up with him in Brierley Hill, near Dudley, he was found to be carrying an eight-inch kitchen knife and wanted to get into the back of the car for protection.
Mr Peel said Smith had later told police in interview that he had taken a lot of cocaine and had become paranoid.
The prosecutor said that the charge of harassment related to a relationship with a former girlfriend who had refused to answer calls and texts from Smith after he was released from prison.
The couple had been together, on and off, for five years and had one child who had subsequently been put up for adoption.
Despite receiving a police harassment warning on November 5, Smith continued to send messages and was charged on December 30.
Reading a statement from the victim, Mr Peel told the court she had become increasingly nervous as Smith's release date approached.
"I was extremely scared, I was on edge in my own home," the statement said.
At Wednesday's hearing Smith was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison for carrying the knife and six weeks for the harassment, but magistrates suspended the punishment for one year.
Smith was given an indefinite restraining order not to contact the victim either directly or indirectly and was ordered to pay £170 prosecution costs and an £80 victim surcharge.
For Smith, Mr Paul Nicholas said his client's calls were because he wanted to hear the annual statement that was sent to his ex-girlfriend from the family who had adopted his daughter.
Mr Nicholas said Smith suffered from ADHD, paranoia, anxiety, depression and had been referred to a psychological help unit for treatment.
To call the police while carrying a knife was "a cry for help", he said and added that Smith had carried the knife for his own protection and had never brandished or threatened anybody with it.
"He deserves sympathy for his problems. He should not be punished for not being like you or I," said Mr Nicholas.
