A MAN who lives in a tent in Coate Water Country Park and is battling a severe alcohol problem will be sentenced today for having a Stanley knife in his possession while sitting outside a town centre shop.

Joseph McLaughlin, 27, pleaded guilty at Swindon Magistrates' Court yesterday to charges of having a bladed article in a public place and for using abusive language towards other people.

The court was told by Keith Ballinger, on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service, how police were called to the back of Poundworld in Edgeware Road at around 6.30pm on Saturday after an employee was sworn at at by McLaughlin as they checked the fire exists were closed.

A member of the street team saw McLaughlin had a Stanley knife placed on his thigh and that he was surrounded by empty paracetamol packets in what appeared to be an attempt to overdose.

Mr Ballinger said. “The defendant makes a comment on route to the hospital that he only had a knife to cut himself. He had consumed lager and pills.”

Emma Thacker, defending, told the magistrates how her client’s alcohol addiction had “spiralled out of control” and that action has been made for him to attend for an alcohol treatment assessment and pre-sentence report.”

She added: “He lost his accommodation with his mother, who is also an alcoholic. He is living in a tent just outside of Coate Water."