A WOMAN who alarmed members of the public when she was spotted carrying a kitchen knife around a town centre has avoided jail.
Emily Williams, of Walden Crescent in Chirk, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentence on Thursday via video link from custody.
The 26-year-old had admitted possessing a bladed article in a public place at a previous hearing.
Anna Pope, prosecuting, told the court that at around 8.30pm on April 23, police were alerted to reports of a female carrying a knife in Wrexham Town Centre.
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Officers attended and saw her standing behind bushes at the back of a council building.
She ran when she saw them, with the eight inch kitchen knife in her hand, but was stopped by taser officers.
Williams, who was defended at the hearing by Patrick Geddes, eventually put the blade down and was taken into custody.
When interviewed, she denied the offence and having been in Wrexham at all.
But her guilty plea before Magistrates came just two days later.
Ms Pope said the defendant had been convicted in January this year for a similar offence - in which she was found near a railway line with a steak knife.
She received a suspended sentence for that offence, meaning the latest matter before the court put her in breach of that sentence.
The court heard the defendant has "significant mental health issues" and intervention with the probation service was suggested.
Judge Niclas Parry told Williams: "You're an extremely fortunate young lady.
"You have the support of good, professional, experienced people - legal and medical - offering help to you.
"It is vitally important you accept that help.
"I'm bound to impose at least six months [custody] - but I do find there are exceptional reasons not to do this.
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"I am satisfied that you continue to suffer from significant mental health issues. That is a fundamental factor in your offending, and why a lady of good character has now entered the criminal system."
The Judge handed down a six month sentence, but suspended it for two years.
She must undertake a mental health treatment requirement, and ten days of rehabilitation activity, as well as paying a victim surcharge of £128.
"We all want you to get better," the Judge said.
"If you don't take the support, you're going to end up where you are now - and we don't want that."
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