A “SEVERELY depressed” man who was arrested in Worcester with a 12-inch butcher’s knife in his pocket has been warned he could face jail.

Christopher Delaney, of Laslett Street, appeared at Worcester Magistrates’ Court on Monday, November 10, where he pleaded guilty to possessing the weapon in Little London, off The Tything, in the early hours of Monday, October 20.

The court heard police had receive d an anonymous telephone call at about 1.45am, which was tracked to a telephone box in Chestnut Street, saying a man was walking around with a knife.

After a search of the area police found the 39-year-old with the large blade clearly visible in his pocket.

Prosecuting, Owen Beale said Delaney had told the officers he had made the call himself, although it was unclear if this was true as the caller had not given their name.

“He said he was depressed and feeling down,” he added.

“He had taken tablets and the knife and intended to hurt himself, but he hadn’t done that.”

Kate Oliver, defending, said her client had recently become extremely depressed following the breakdown of a 15-ye ar relationship and was being treated with anti-depressant medication.

“He was seriously depressed at that time and was considering self harm,” she said.

She added he had set up counselling sessions.

Adjourning the case for one week for reports, District Judge Nigel Cadbury warned Delaney he could be sent to prison.

Delaney was granted unconditional bail to return to the court on Friday, November 24.