Troubled man gets eight month sentence for possessing knife (From Dorset Echo)

Troubled man gets eight month sentence for possessing knife

10:20am Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News

A TROUBLED man called the police on himself for carrying a knife in fear he was a danger to the public.

Steven Greenwood, of no fixed abode, has been sentenced to eight months in prison for possession of a bladed article.

Dorchester Crown Court heard how police received two calls to the Weatherbury Hotel in Weymouth in April last year that a man was brandishing a knife.

Upon investigation it was discovered that Greenwood had made the calls himself and given two different names.

When Greenwood, aged 34, was searched, a kitchen knife was found in his trouser pocket.

In mitigation, counsel for the defence Tim Bradbury said: “When this offence was committed, Mr Greenwood recognised how he was feeling and took steps to secure his arrest and ensure he wouldn’t do that which he thought he might.”

Greenwood, who has 24 previous convictions for 77 offences, said that he was concerned about what he would do if he was released.

Two psychiatric reports were prepared but no medical condition under the Mental Health Act to warrant time in an institution was found, the court was told.

Mr Bradbury said he knew the judge could only impose time in prison and had been asked by Greenwood not to try and lower the length of the sentence.