Upton knifeman wanted police to shoot him dead, court told

Craig Smith lay in front of his ex-girlfriend's car to stop her leaving during the incident in Upton, later producing a large knife and waving it about as police arrived.

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The 29-year-old of William Tennant Way, Upton, admitted possession of the knife in the town on April 16 when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester on Thursday.

TASER: Craig Smith collapsed to the ground

Melanie Winterflood, prosecuting, said the incident happened in the early hours of the morning, police receiving telephone calls from members of the public who heard a disturbance.

"They saw a gentleman in the street, holding a knife in his right hand. The knife was described as having a long blade and a coloured handle" said Miss Winterflood.

GUILTY: Craig Smith was armed with a knife. He would not put it down so he was Tasered

Smith was seen 'waving it around' and was not engaging with police officers who asked him 'repeatedly' to put the knife down.

"There was some suggestion he was going to kill himself but he was goading officers, suggesting perhaps they should do it for him," said Miss Winterflood.

It took an estimated five minutes to bring him under control. Miss Winterflood said because Smith refused to put the knife down, he was Tasered and the blade was seized.

He made 'no comment' to all questions asked of him in police interview. Smith had no previous convictions for any knife-related offences.

His last conviction was 10 years ago for 'a dissimilar matter'.

Chris Hilton, defending, asked the case be adjourned for a psychiatric report.

Mr Hilton said Smith's girlfriend had left and he had found that 'difficult to come to terms with'. His actions followed her returning to collect her remaining belongings.

"He was seeking to prevent her from leaving by lying in front of the car," said Mr Hilton. He stressed that at no time were any police officers threatened.

"Because he failed to co-operate and put the knife down, he was Tasered causing him to collapse to the ground," said Mr Hilton.

The solicitor said Smith, who had a pre-existing brain injury, did not hear the demands to put down the knife. He was taken to hospital and then on to police custody.

Sentence was adjourned until July 11 to allow the preparation of psychiatric and probation reports.