A HOMELESS man caught carrying a knife in a chemist has been jailed after he was ruled a high risk to children and the public.

David Galvin, of no fixed address, admitted possessing a knife in a public place at Salisbury Magistrates Court on Friday.

Prosecuting, Nick Barr said police were called to Lloyds Pharmacy in Salisbury at about 5.45pm on March 8 after receiving reports about a vulnerable man.

Officers heard that the man had told a member of the public that he was going to harm himself, and that he had a knife.

Police arrived and found he had hidden a steak knife up his sleeve, and folded his arms to hide it.

Mr Barr said the officers unfolded Galvin’s arms and the knife was taken from him “gently”.

Galvin, 54, also told police he had drunk a litre of vodka and taken painkillers and antibiotic tablets.

Mr Barr said Galvin slept rough and usually used the knife for preparing food, but had brought it into town with the intention of hurting himself after hearing somebody call him a paedophile.

A probation officer told the court Galvin had failed to attend rehabilitation and alcohol treatment sessions in February and March after assaulting a police officer and being drunk and disorderly in November 2016.

The officer also said Galvin, who sometimes lived in woods near Tidworth, had been assessed as a high risk to the public and to children in February this year, and that he was currently on bail for an alleged sexual offence.

Defending, Nick Redhead said Galvin was “very clearly a vulnerable individual” with an alcohol dependency, who was “living out of a tent”.

Mr Redhead said Galvin had not threatened anyone with the knife and that all concerns were for his client’s safety.

Magistrate Richard Trahair said: “We believe that public safety in this case is the most important issue.

“It seems you are unable to comply with the conditions that might be implied with a suspended sentence.

“We are therefore sending you to prison for a period of 21 weeks.

“We believe that only a custodial sentence can be justified in this case.”

Galvin must also pay a victim surcharge of £115.