A MAN found with a knife in a public place for the third time has been remanded in custody until he faces a judge at Swindon Crown Court.

Samuel David Mellor, 28, who gave his address as HM Prison, was brought before magistrates in Swindon on Wednesday charged with possessing a knife in Fleet Street, Swindon on December 24 last year.

He pleaded guilty to the offence, which the court heard was his third since 2013, making remand in custody automatic.

Prosecutor Pauline Lambert told the court that at 1am on Christmas Eve Mellor had produced a knife in front of Subway in Fleet Street.

The door staff reported the knife to the police and Mellor was arrested. Mellor told police he had bought the knife from Tesco to harm himself and he had been drinking since 3pm.

At some time that evening he had fallen over and had been helped by a street pastor whom he told that he had the knife.

Miss Lambert told the court that in 2013 Mellor had been found in possession of a three-inch bladed kitchen knife and in 2016 he was in possession of a knife with a seven-inch blade.

Defending, Mike Bulsford, said Mellor’s form of self-harm took the form of cutting himself.

“This young man certainly has problems. He has to go,” Mr Bulsford said.

The magistrates declined jurisdiction for the sentencing and the case was referred to Swindon Crown Court at a date to be fixed.