A MAN caught with a knife on Itchen Bridge had lost his relationship, job and home in the space of two days.

A court heard Curtis Grimes wanted to take his own life because he he had “lost everything” after being arrested for an alleged assault on his now ex-fiancee – which was later dropped by police.

After being kicked out of their home, and becoming homeless, he was also told he had lost his job via a text message.

Shortly after receiving the message, the 31-year-old got off a bus near to the Itchen Bridge.

Southampton Crown Court heard how police were called to help Grimes after shocked passers-by saw him unsuccessfully attempting to climb the railings on the side of the bridge.

Officers and members of the public managed to talk him out of taking his own life.

Prosecutor Aleks Lloyd told the court that during the incident, on October 30, Grimes threatened to hurt himself and others.

However the court heard Grimes’ threats were a “cry for help” rather than a genuine risk to the public.

Grimes also confessed to having a hammer and a lock knife in his bag – the latter of which he said was sentimental because it belonged to his late grandfather.

At his sentencing yesterday, Grimes admitted being in possession of a bladed article in a public place.

The court heard that Grimes faced a period of imprisonment as he had two previous convictions relating to weapons – though those were unrelated to self-harm.

Mitigating for Grimes, Chris Gaiger said his client’s situation was “very sad”.

Mr Gaiger said Grimes also accepted the prospect of a jail sentence due to his current situation, adding that alternative punishments would be “setting him up to fail”.

Judge Peter Henry sentenced Grimes, of no fixed address, to four months in prison.

He said: “What troubles me most [about this incident] is that you said that you told police wanted to hurt yourself and others during this incident.

“Very fairly, police came to the conclusion that it was not because you were really going to hurt anyone, but because you wanted to be arrested.

“Had I thought there was any thought of hurting someone else then you would be going to prison for a very long time.”

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