A hospital visitor terrified passers-by by walking through the grounds armed with a fearsome looking cavalry sword.
David Elliott was arrested by police who happened to be dropping off a patient at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital when he approached a unit with the sword in his hand.
He left the weapon on a bench outside the Cedars Unit as he went to ring on the door and it was recovered by officers without anyone being threatened or hurt.
Elliott, aged 44, of Geneva Close, Exeter, admitted having a bladed article in a public place and was jailed for 12 months, suspended for two years, and ordered to receive drug rehabilitation as part of two years supervision.
Mr David Bowen, prosecuting, said Elliott was arrested in January 19 outside the Cedars Unit, which is a psychiatric facility in the grounds of the main hospital.
He said:"He went towards the unit carrying a sword and coincidentally police were delivering a patient to it and saw him with the weapon.
"They saw him put it down on a bench and go up to the door where he pressed the bell. A member of the public who was in the area told police they were terrified because it was a large sword.
"Elliott shouted to the officers that the sword was his and said he had found it. He was arrested and taken to the police station.
"The sword has a 27 inch blade and a ten inch handle and looks like a cavalry saber. Elliott said he was drunk and going to visit a friend when he found the weapon.
"He never showed any intention to use it or to cause fear with it."
Mr Nick Bradley, defending, urged the Judge to follow the recommendations of a pre sentence report which dealt with Elliott's history of drug and mental problems.
He said he had been assessed as suitable for drug rehabilitation.
Recorder Mr Andrew Maitland told Elliott:"It is an aggravating feature that you were drunk but I accept you put the sword down on a bench a short distance from the door. It is not suggested you threatened anybody.
"This was a cavalry sword which was about a yard in length and was a fearsome looking item and a member of the public saw it and was terrified.
"One would have to be very worried about the purpose of someone who take a weapon like that into the grounds of a hospital. The location makes this offence more serious.
"I have read about you and your health problems in the reports and erratic seems to be the least word to describe your behaviour."
