A VULNERABLE man self-harmed with a knife after losing £100 on gaming machines, a judge was told.

James Fowler, 21, ran through the town centre of Wrexham clutching a bread knife pursued by police with his arm bloodied.

He pleaded guilty having two knives – the other a four-inch lock knife in his pocket – and to affray but Judge Huw Rees showed mercy at Caernarfon Crown Court and gave him a year's jail sentence which was suspended for 18 months.

He was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and rehabilitation activity of 20 days "to address the gambling problem".

Ember-Jade Wong, prosecuting, said at 10.15am on November 3 a man had seen Fowler, of Mold Road, Cefn-y-Bedd, Flintshire, sitting on a bench holding a knife, bleeding from cuts on his left arm.

A 999 call was made and Fowler ran off towards the town centre, two police officers in pursuit.

He collided with a pedestrian, the five-inch knife dropping to the ground, but when police grabbed him a four inch lock knife was discovered in his pocket.

Maria Masellis, defending, said there had been no desire to injure anyone and the second knife had not been produced.

"He's a vulnerable young man with particular difficulties," she added. He had episodes of depression and self-harm.

Fowler had loving parents who sought to provide independence and a structure to his life and he was now working for two charitable organisations.

Judge Rees told Fowler: "You said you wanted to harm yourself because you had lost £100 through your attraction to gaming machines and had previous experiences of self-harm after losing money by gambling."

The judge added: "This case is being sentenced on its own facts and in its proper context."

He added there were "peculiar features" and he said the probation service should also offer help for his mental health.