A man who twice attacked police officers when they turned up to arrest him when he was in a distressed state later walked into a police station with an eight-inch knife.

Robert Sowden assaulted the first officer when he refused to leave West Park Hospital in Darlington after being discharged by psychiatrists.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 47-year-old became agitated and aggressive before staff called the police for support.

Shada Mellor, prosecuting, said Sowden had voluntarily attended the hospital over concerns about his mental health but was assessed to coping well but he reacted violently to the news on August 18 last year.

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She added: “He was shouting aggressively and showing warning signs of violent behaviour. The defendant assaulted the officer by punching and biting him.”

Sowden was subdued after officers used pepper spray to incapacitate him.

Miss Mellor said the defendant assaulted another officer on January 12 this year when he called police to attend a suspected burglary.

She said when officers arrived at Lingfield Green, Darlington, they discovered there was no burglary but the defendant was spotted nearby and was talking incoherently.

When officers discovered the defendant had made the call, he became aggressive and pushed the officer in the chest before he was arrested.

Miss Mellor said on January 13, the defendant walked into Darlington Police station to tell them he was carrying a kitchen knife and was worried that he may use it as he said his mental health was deteriorating.

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Sowden, of Wilshire Place, Coburg Street, Darlington, pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting an emergency worker and a further charge of possession of a bladed article.

Representing himself, he told the judge that his mental health difficulties had been stabilised whilst he was in custody.

Judge Jonathan Carroll sentenced Sowden to a total of 26 weeks for all offences.