A RADCLIFFE man went to Fairfield Hospital seeking help - but was found to be carrying a knife.

Minshull Street Crown Court heard a month earlier Ainsley France had also pulled out a blade outside a pub.

The 24-year-old was at The Victoria Pub in Bury but was asked to leave.

Two men escorted him out of the premises and followed him outside, only for France to withdraw a 10-inch knife and warn them to stay away.

The following month he turned up at Fairfield Hospital and demanded help for mental health difficulties.

He was abusive towards staff and during the incident he was found to have a seven-inch knife inside his pocket, which he had not taken out.

France, of Lever Street, Radcliffe, appeared in court after admitting to the two offences last October and November.

David Morton, defending, said his client had mental health difficulties.

He said the defendant had smoked cannabis from the age of 14 and had been expelled from school.

He added: “These were crisis moments” and said “alarm bells” should have been ringing even without the criminal offending.

Mr Morton also said the knifes were not being carried with the intention of “harming or even threatening” others.

Recorder Neil Usher said of the incident at Fairfield: “Your behaviour was completely unacceptable.”

He said of the incident at the pub: “They were simply asking you to leave the pub and they had every right to do that. You had no right to be in a pub with a knife in public.”

He imposed a 12-month community order with 35 rehab days and a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

He asked France if he thought he could complete this programme and France said he could.

The judge also banned him from attending the Victoria Pub in Bury for a year.