A CHESTER man who was found to have a large kitchen knife in his rucksack at the train station has been handed a suspended sentence.

Matthew David Kemp, 36, of Crewe Street, was already on a suspended sentence when he appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court via videolink from HMP Altcourse on Thursday, September 21, having previously pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in a public place.

But the court heard Kemp had recently been diagnosed with schizophrenia, which lessened his culpability in his offending.

Since being diagnosed, Kemp had reported feeling "more settled", and an offer of suitable alternative accommodation away from Chester meant the judge, His Honour Timothy Petts, could step back from imposing immediate custody.

Prosecuting, Thomas McLoughlin said it was on August 3 when police were called to assist an ambulance team over welfare concerns for Kemp, after it was feared the defendant had a "potentially psychotic episode".

Kemp was discovered at the nearby Chester railway station and, after making minor attempts to evade police, was detained.

He said he did not have a knife on him, but a large, black-handled kitchen knife was discovered in his rucksack. In interview, Kemp said he did not know it was there, but accepted it must have been him who put it there.

He added his mental health was serious at the time.

The court heard Kemp had four previous convictions, including one for affray for an offence in Bangor.

On that occasion, Kemp had been in a street brawl, during which he had a claw hammer and kicked a dog.

The court heard he received a 36-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and he was in breach of that.

Defending, John Wyn Williams said a probation report had shown Kemp had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, and had recommended a community-imposed penalty as an alternative to custody, with Kemp physically able to carry out unpaid work.

A stable address for Kemp had been offered by a friend in North Yorkshire, and Kemp's mental health was being controlled by medication.

Judge Petts told Kemp that although he did not produce the knife, carrying it around in public had "potential for grave consequences".

He said the probation report meant the situation was "more developed" than the last time Kemp had appeared in court in May.

Kemp's existing 36-week suspended sentence was extended from 12 to 18 months, still taking effect from May 2023.

A new, four-month suspended sentence was imposed, to last for 18 months from September 2023.

During that time, Kemp must carry out 100 hours unpaid work and carry out 35 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement, with those expected to take place in Yorkshire.

The kitchen knife was to be forfeited and destroyed.