A MAN who rang police from a phonebox and told them he was armed with a machete has been jailed again.

Burnley Crown Court heard that David Brian Lowe told police his life was a mess and he wanted to go to prison.

Prosecuting, Holly Nelson said when police arrived at the phonebox in Paxton Street, Accrington, they didn’t find a machete, but a large carving knife.

The court heard 29-year-old Lowe committed his latest offence while he was released from prison on licence after serving half of a previous sentence for a possessing a knife in a public place.

On that occasion Lowe was carrying a knife in Accrington town centre. When police arrived the defendant told them he had hidden it in a bin, criticised the authorities for a lack of help with his mental health and said his then girlfriend had dumped him.

Ms Nelson said: “The latest matter relates to July 24 of this year whereby the police received a telephone call from a phonebox in Accrington. It was from the defendant initially saying he was in possession of a machete and he wanted to go to prison.

“He went on to say his life was mad and he needed to get his head sorted.

“Officers attended and a large knife was recovered. It was found on the floor of the phonebox.”

Ms Nelson said when Lowe was interviewed he made full admissions and went onto refer to his mental health difficulties. Lowe told police possessing the knife was a “cry for help” and “not an intention to hurt anyone”.

Lowe, of Woodside Road, Accrington, pleaded guilty to possessing a knife.

The court heard Lowe had 10 previous convictions for 14 offences, including three other knife possession offences.

Defending, Neil Howard said his client’s mental health had not been helped by his alcohol and drug misuse and said he was mixing with the wrong kind of people.

Mr Howard said: “He told the police he was struggling, he has a number of mental health issues and he wanted to go to prison. It seems what he was saying to the probation service the week before this offence was committed was that he was struggling mentally and financially. He had no money for food or rent.”

Judge Simon Medland QC jailed Lowe for 12 months.