A MAN experiencing mental health difficulties called police and said he had a knife and they should come and arrest him.

Blackburn magistrates heard when officers arrived they found David Brian Lowe sitting on a bench and he told them he had left the knife in the phone box across the road.

Lowe, 30, of Woodside Road, Accrington, pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in public. He was committed in custody to Burnley Crown Court to be sentenced on April 26.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said police received a call at 12.30am to say a man with mental health problems was in Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, and he had a knife.

When they arrived he was sitting on a bench and he told them he was coming down from taking some crack cocaine.

"He said he had left the knife in the phone box which is where the officers recovered it from," said Mr Robinson.

"He said he had no intention of hurting anyone."

Damien Pickup, defending, said his client had called the police, told him he had a knife and that they should come and arrest him.

"He has been struggling recently with his mental health and suffering from severe depression," said Mr Pickup. "Yesterday he was feeling really down. He rang the police from the phone box where he left the knife and then sat on the bench and waited.

"The police didn't even handcuff him he was so compliant. He knows he is going to prison today and he would almost welcome that because he knows he will get some support while he is inside and when he is released."