A WOMAN has been jailed for persistently carrying a knife in Bradford.

Claire Heron was brought to Bradford Crown Court from custody to be sentenced for her fifth offence of having a bladed article in a public place.

Heron, 25, of Breighton Adown, Buttershaw, Bradford, was found sitting on a wall with the knife in her coat pocket and a piece of glass in her hand after she rang the police at 11.30pm on September 13.

She told officers she feared an ex-partner was following her and she was panicking. Heron also stated that the glass and the knife were for self-harming with.

She pleaded guilty to the offence, putting her in breach of four court orders.

Her record of three convictions for seven offences included four offences of carrying a knife in a public place.

In November last year, she admitted two offences of having a bladed article and was sentenced to a two year community order.

In July, Heron was convicted of racially aggravated harassment, threatening behaviour and two further offences of having a bladed article.

The following month she was conditionally discharged for sending an offensive communication.

Her barrister, Stephen Littlewood, said she had mental health problems. She had been in custody since September 15, he told the court.

Judge Ahmed Nadim said she was either unable or unwilling to comply with court orders.

It was recognised that she had mental health issues but the expert report prepared into her offending said her possession of the knife was not explained by those difficulties.

He jailed Heron for four months, warning her that if she persisted in such offending the sentences she received would get much longer and she would have only herself to blame.

The community order and an alcohol treatment programme were kept in place to help her when she is released from custody.