Police were called to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham following reports of a man with a small knife on him. The man was Stephen Clay, who magistrates in Nottingham heard was 'particularly in crisis around that time', said solicitor Emma Eardley, who represented him.
"He went to hospital to seek help from the mental health services," said Miss Eardley. He was allegedly declined help at that point, and he decided then the only way he was going to get assistance was to hurt himself.
Miss Eardley told magistrates today (January 11) she had seen the slash marks. "It is not suggested he got the knife out and brandished it," she added.
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Clay was covered in blood in A&E on November 17 last year and he was treated for his injuries. But he was charged, and pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in the hospital.
He further admitted a second offence of assaulting a custody officer at Nottingham Custody Suite on December 2 last year. The assault involved Clay throwing punches towards the officer who went to check on him when he put a pillow over his own face.
Clay, 42, of Beckley Road, Broxtowe, was given four months in prison for the knife offence and two months in custody consecutively for the assault. The six-month term was suspended for 12 months, but a compensation order was added of £154 for the officer, and a fine of £60, after he breached a community order for assaulting an emergency worker.
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