POLICE were called to a Bacup cemetery after a report of a man in the burial ground with an axe.

Blackburn magistrates heard Damon Bell told officers he was paranoid and thought people were following him.

Bell, 35, of Molesworth Street, Rochdale, pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in Brunswick Terrace, Bacup, and possession of amphetamine. He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered to complete 12 days’ Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and pay £128 victim surcharge.

Waqas Yaqub, prosecuting, said police were contacted by a friend of the defendant who reported he was in a cemetery in possession of an axe.

He was arrested and a small quantity of amphetamine was found on him.

Richard Prew, defending, said his client lived in Bacup at the time of the offences in February and was struggling with his mental health due to drug abuse.

“Since then he has been through rehab and there has been a big change in his life,” aid Mr Prew. “Because of that the probation service have been able to make a very positive recommendation.”