A CHEF from Devizes, who brandished a knife in public while he was very drunk, pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed weapon when he appeared before North West Wiltshire Magistrates last Thursday.

Steven Larsen, of Townsend, Great Cheverell, was found carrying the 3.5-inch steak knife in the Peace Memorial Field, in Southwick Road, North Bradley at around 5am on March 22.

The 24-year-old, who suffers from bipolar disorder, had recently been made homeless after breaking up with his girlfriend and had contacted police repeatedly throughout the night saying he was carrying a blade.

The court heard police found Larsen, heavily intoxicated, holding the steak knife pointing it towards the ground. He was told repeatedly to drop the weapon.

Defending, Andrew Watts-Jones said: “This is a very sad situation. He has a record but a very limited one.

“The offence is alcohol-related and he does have a drink problem. It is not a big problem but it is a problem and is the reason why this took place.

“He had finished the relationship with his girlfriend and she was refusing to return the pills to him that were in her house unless he came back so he was unmedicated.

“Unfortunately he went to see a friend, an alcoholic, as he was effectively homeless and was forced to sofa surf and ended up in the park with a steak knife.”

Mr Watts-Jones said Larsen could not remember how or why he had ended up in the field with the knife.

Larsen, who now lives with his mum in Devizes, was given a nine-month community order and will be forced to follow a curfew.

Mr Watts-Jones added: “There was no suggestion of a threat. The knife was held down and he was not in an aggressive stance.

“It seems to me that it was more some sort of cry for help and really it has had the desired effect. 

“His mum has taken him back under the understanding that if there is any alcohol consumed he is out and he has stuck to it.”