A MAN has been hauled in front of the courts after he went into a Southampton shop with a knife. 

CCTV showed Reece Middleton walking into a Tesco store in Bitterne with a knife. 

Prosecution barrister, Stuart Ellacott told how police were alerted and the 28-year-old was arrested nearby.

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court this week, he was charged with being in possession of a bladed article in a public place. 

He previously admitted to the offence committed in March this year. 

Defence barrister, Khalid Missouri said Middleton, of Holcroft Road, Southampton, had been suffering with his mental health and argued that the best solution would be for him to be treated in the community. 

He went on to say that he has a "very strong, supportive family". 

But Judge Brian Forster QC said anyone seeing the knife would have been "naturally worried". 

Referring to the case as "complex" he deferred sentencing for six months so that Middleton can engage with mental health treatment services. 

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