A 70 YEAR old man who walked towards a police officer while carrying a hunting knife has been given a conditional discharge by Skipton magistrates.

Michael Cornwell refused to drop the knife, which had a five inch blade, and was Parva sprayed by the officer to disable him, the court heard on Friday.

Cornwell had phoned the police on September 13 last year because he was worried about a possible intruder who he described as acting ‘strange’ and ‘lurking’ in a field near to his home in Henbusk Lane, Clapham.

An officer went to his home and Cornwell came to the door with the knife in his hand. He was told to put it down, but instead walked out of the house towards the officer, still carrying the knife, but not making any threats, the court heard.

The officer used his Parva spray - similar to pepper spray - on Cornwell and the knife was recovered. In interview he declined to answer questions. The court heard Cornwell, who admitted being in possession of a knife in a public place, had no previous convictions, had poor mental health and was accompanied to court by a community psychiatric nurse.

In mitigation, Keith Blackwell said Cornwell had spent his life so far without troubling the law. He suffered from mental health difficulties and had become fearful about someone he had seen in the field behind his house.

He had picked up the knife and regrettably still had it in his hand when the police had arrived.

The carrying of knives was very much in the news at the moment and the officer was naturally alarmed, said Mr Blackwell.

“It is deeply sad that he is here today” he said.

Cornwell, of Henbusk Lane, Clapham, was given a two year conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £21. The knife will be destroyed.