A man who claims he carried knives for his own protection told police his name was Jesus Christ before he was found with a blade.
Saidou Jarra, 43, was reported to police after attempting to get into bars on Call Lane on September 2, 2022. Doormen told officers Jarra, of no fixed abode, was sitting on the steps of the Corn Exchange and a member of the public also reported that they believed him to be in possession of a knife.
Prosecutor Jade Edwards told Leeds Crown Court on Monday: "He said [to officers] he was Jesus Christ but his passport gave his true identity. In his rucksack, there was a large kitchen knife in a towel which had been tied in a knot. He said it was for his protection.
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"While in custody he said 'I'm a military man...I don't give a f***, I'm a soldier...When I come out of prison you will regret it."
As well as that charge of possession of a bladed article, Jarra also fell to be sentenced for three counts of failure to surrender in relation to court appearances, including a Magistrates' hearing relating to the offence on September 2, and two counts of assault by beating.
The court was told that just ten days later on September 9, he walked past a car which a mother, her son, and his stepfather were getting out of on Dewsbury Road when Jarra punched the rear door, hitting the young boy with it.
Ms Edwards said: "The stepfather asked him what he was doing and he said he didn't do anything which made the man become angry. The mother contacted the police because he was scared and he [Jarra] was punching the family's car before stopping and walking away."
Jarra was arrested and the young boy was taken to hospital due to reddening on his face. In a statement, his mother said he was "very scared and traumatised."
Ms Edwards said: "In interview, he [Jarra] said it was pre-planned by the family and he got angry with the door clicking as it was noisy and he didn't realise anyone was in the back of the car. He said he would do it again as he was angry."
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Jarra was charged and again failed to attend the magistrates' court. On October 2 last year, the court heard that at around 5.30am a woman and her daughter was using the women's public toilets at the city bus station when they encountered Jarra. Ms Edwards said Jarra told the woman not to use the hand dryer and they asked him to leave.
He went on to throw toilet roll at the women and "went to the daughter and the mum stepped between them thinking it was a threat and he pushed her.
"They left and told security staff who in turn told the police," Ms Edwards said. In his interview with police, Jarra said he only threw the toilet roll as the woman and her daughter were shouting at him and said he was attempting to leave the bathroom. It was said he had three previous convictions for six offences including possession of a bladed article in 2020, for which he was handed 26 weeks in custody.
Jarra told the court his carries knives for his own protection and had been living on the streets. The court heard Jarra has paranoid schizophrenia and two reports conducted by doctors had been carried out.
He told the court he is not mentally unwell, but His Honour Judge Batty made him the subject of a hospital order under section 37 of the Mental Health Act. No time limit was made to the order.
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