A PRIMARY school teacher from Cross Hills has been given a suspended prison sentence for turning up at her parents' home with two kitchen knives in a bag.

Police went to Spencer Close, Cross Hills, on August 4 after receiving a report of a female acting aggressively, heard Skipton Magistrates Court today (Friday).

There, they found Lauren Jenkins, 36, who the court heard had serious and long standing mental health issues, including self harming, on the ground outside the house being restrained by her father.

She screamed at police and one of the officers found two kitchen knives, each with blades of between eight and ten inches, in her bag, said Nadine Clough, prosecuting. At the time, Jenkins was four months into a year-long community order from Bradford Magistrates Court for drink-driving, for which she also received a two year ban.

Jenkins, who admitted the possession of two knives in a public place without good or lawful reason, was a teacher at a West Yorkshire primary school, had been off work sick since February, and would now lose the job that she loved, the court heard.

In mitigation, John Mewies said Jenkins was a highly intelligent woman who suffered with significant and long-standing mental health issues, including self-harming. A single parent, she had been off work since February as medically unfit and would now lose her job.

Mr Mewies said Jenkins had returned to her flat on August 4 after going out for lunch before then going to her parents' house. She had picked up a different bag on her way out of the flat to the one she had with her earlier, and without knowing it had two knives in it.

Things had 'come to a head' as she had tried to enter her parents' home, and her father had restrained her, said Mr Mewies.

Jenkins, of Aire Street, Cross Hills was told by magistrates she had carried out the offence shortly after being placed on a community order and that it had crossed the custody threshold. She was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. She will also have to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £154.

After being told Jenkins was doing well with the requirements of her community order, including attending appointments, rehabilitation activity requirement days, and a alcohol detox programme, magistrates said they were prepared to leave it in place and not re-sentence.