A knifeman fleeing from police officers ran into a health centre before throwing the blade away.
Dylan Sewell, 23, who has a string of previous convictions for carrying weapons, was jailed for eight months at Airdrie Sheriff Court.
He admitted carrying a knife without reasonable excuse at Coatbridge Health Centre on November 18 while on bail for another matter.
The court heard that police were alerted shortly before 6pm due to fears that Sewell, who is from Coatbridge, was going to harm himself.
Annette Ward, prosecuting, said: “They received calls from members of the public regarding the accused being in Faraday Retail Park in possession of a knife.
“He was holding this to his throat and threatening to harm himself.
“Police officers attended and saw the accused who matched the description they had been given.
“They approached and he ran into the health centre. The officers pursued him and found a large, serrated knife in the corridor.
“Sewell was arrested. He was found to be highly intoxicated.”
Defence lawyer Roberto Manini said his client has “significant” mental health issues.
He has been in custody since his arrest in November and Mr Manini added: “While being held at HMP Addiewell, his mental health has deteriorated completely. He has been bullied and slashed.”
Passing sentence, Sheriff Paul Haran told Sewell: “I acknowledge the circumstances here are indicative of your mental health problems at the time.
“Nonetheless, taking an item like this into any public place – perhaps even more so when it’s a health centre – is of significant concern regardless of your motivation.
“Your previous convictions show five separate charges involving a weapon – a knife in three cases – so you knew fine well you shouldn’t have had this item with you.
“There is no alternative to custody.”
The eight-month sentence was reduced from 15 months because of Sewell’s early guilty plea and the time already spent in custody.
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