A MAGISTRATES' court has launched an investigation after a defendant cut his own throat in court.

Kirklees Magistrates' Court, which deals with cases from the Spen Valley, is probing how the knife got through security checks by staff.

The 20-year-old suffered what police said were "serious lacerations" after he attacked himself following his sentencing to 16 weeks in jail.

A security guard was slightly injured in the disorder which broke out.

A spokesman for security firm GEOAmey said: "GEOAmey is working closely with Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service and the Ministry of Justice to investigate this incident."

A spokeswoman for HM Courts and Tribunal Service added: "We are urgently investigating the circumstances of the incident."