A DRUNK university student from Ellesmere Port who was heading towards Wrexham town centre carrying a kitchen knife had rang police to notify them that voices in his head were telling him to kill people, a court heard.

Daniel Birchall, who is in his third year at Wrexham Glyndŵr University, made the call before walking along Regent Street near to a group of workers at the train station at 1.48am on September 24.

The 24-year-old was "highly intoxicated" but dropped the knife when asked to do so by officers who were armed with Tasers, Mold Crown Court was told.

Birchall, who was living in student accommodation on Crispin Lane at the time of the incident, had pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in a public place at a previous hearing at Wrexham Magistrates Court.

He had been remanded in custody before appearing today (October 21) at Mold Crown Court where Judge Rowlands handed him a suspended prison sentence.

Gartland Patrick, prosecuting, said Birchall had admitted in police interview he was "seven out of ten on a scale of drunkenness" having been on a bar crawl and consumed seven to eight pints.

Mr Patrick told the court that Birchall "was hearing voices telling him to kill people" and went back to his student accommodation where he armed himself with a white-handed kitchen knife, which had a three-inch blade, before leaving and walking towards the town centre.

"He didn't want to do it, something was telling him not to put the knife down", he added.

According to Mr Patrick, Birchall had suffered for four to five years with his mental health, but was aware it would get worse under the influence of alcohol.

Alun Williams, defending, told the court that although there were workers in the vicinity, there was no interaction.

He said his client was "fully compliant" and confirmed that he had not heard voices in his head since the incident.

Mr Williams also told the court that Birchall had self-harmed in the past and "has an inability to follow up on assistance he has had" regarding his mental health.

He added that his client has had "a difficult experience in custody" and found it to be "traumatic".

Judge Rhys Rowlands told Birchall: "You had a small knife and you were holding it. The police were consummate professionals who dealt with a difficult and potentially very dangerous situation.

"This could have ended up very differently. There was a risk of serious alarm."

He added: "You're an individual of previous good character. You still have a future as a third year university student."

Judge Rowlands said that despite misgivings, he believes there is a prospect of rehabilitation and decided on "a more constructive sentence".

Birchall was sentenced to 30 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, and put on an electronically monitored curfew for 12 weeks between the hours of 8pm and 8am.

An order was also made for him to complete a rehabilitation activity requirement.