A MAN who threatened to stab someone after stealing a £3 knife from Tesco has been spared jail.

Aaron Coutts called police to say he was in possession of the blade and felt like stabbing someone.

Officers were sent to his address in Greenstead Road, Colchester, but while en route they were told he had moved to the nearby Tesco.

He was later found on the railway bridge on Hythe Station Road and had cut his own arms.

Police shouted for him to drop the knife and used CS spray to disarm him.

Coutts had stolen the blade from the supermarket shortly before he called the police in the evening of January 30.

When the 23-year-old appeared in Colchester Magistrates’ Court he admitted theft and possession of a knife and asked to be remanded in custody.

But at Chelmsford Crown Court for sentencing, Hannah Sutton, mitigating, said he had realised he did not want to be in jail.

She said: “He stressed he wanted to go to custody and has been remanded since February.

“But he has had some difficult experiences while in custody and it has not been what he expected.”

Coutts has a previous conviction for arson in April last year and has twice been called back to court for failing to comply with the community order he was given.

Judge Charles Gratwicke said he was concerned imposing another order would be setting Coutts up to fail but Miss Sutton said he was determined to change and had support from his social worker and his family.

She said: “The difference is Mr Coutts himself.

“The last few months have been a real challenge and he says he now feels foolish for asking to go to prison.

“He said himself he did not want to let you down.”

Judge Gratwicke handed him a six month prison sentence which was suspended for two years. He must also attend 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He said: “I have decided to give you a chance to go back into the community and prove you will not behave in the manner you have on the last two occasions.

“If you do then that is it - the only alternative is prison.

“If you breach the order you will be back before me and I will send you to prison.

“Sending you to jail will be as easy as pie for me. I don’t want to do it but will have to if you give me the chance.”