A MAN said to have felt paranoid after he had taken cocaine took a red kitchen knife out with him into the street late at night “for protection”.

But Thomas James Clarke was seen and arrested in Wrexham and in court he was warned the offence was so serious that custody had been considered.

Clarke, 21, of St David’s Crescent, Caia Park, received a suspended sentence when he appeared at North East Wales Magistrates Court at Mold.

He admitted possessing the knife with a seven inch long blade in Wrexham High Street in the early hours of September 9 but it was accepted he had not taken it out of his pocket or used it in any way.

Magistrates warned him that taking a knife out in public could have lethal consequences.

A three month prison sentence was suspended for 18 months and he was placed on rehabilitation and sent on a 35 sessions thinking skills course.

He must complete 180 hours unpaid work and he was ordered to pay £85 costs.

Possessing a knife did pass the custody threshold but magistrates said they took into account that no harm had been caused, no threat had been made, he was remorseful and he had co-operated with police at the time.

Prosecutor Rhian Jackson said CCTV operators alerted police after they saw Clarke in possession of the knife.

Officers approached him in the High Street and told him to put his arms in the air and he immediately complied.

Asked if he had anything in his possession he said he had cocaine but the amount was not enough to be tested.

He also confirmed he the blade in his pocket.

Arrested and interviewed, he said he had taken some cocaine at home, went out to meet a friend at 2.30am and took the knife with him for protection.

He could not really explain why he had done it and said he had not been threatened by anyone.

Clarke stressed the knife had remained in his pocket throughout and that he had not taken it out to threaten anyone. The handle must have been visible from his pocket.

He said he knew it was illegal to have such a knife in public.

A probation officer told the court Clarke did not usually take a knife out and could not really explain why he had done so.

It was possibly cocaine which made him feel paranoid and he was gutted at the position he was in.

Clarke was a man who used drugs recreationally – cocaine twice a month and he also used cannabis.

The probation officer said it was a concern that he had armed himself with a knife that night and it demonstrated a lack of consequential thinking.

Solicitor Bethan Jones, defending, said her client had co-operated fully and pleaded guilty.

It was appreciated it was a serious offence but she suggested a suspended sentence.