POLICE had to taser a man twice after he ran out of his home at them with a vegetable knife.

Bolton Crown Court heard how officers were called to Lawrence Buckley’s home in Well Grove, Whitefield, at 11.30pm on October 30 last year by the defendant’s father.

Adrian Farrow, prosecuting, told how the policemen saw bare chested 20-year-old Buckley standing on the doorstep, arguing with his dad.

But before the officers could get out of their car, Buckley ran towards them with a knife and tried to open their passenger door.

“PC Houghton had to hang onto the door to prevent it being opened,” said Mr Farrow.

His colleague got out of the car and used a taser on Buckley, but when it failed to force him to drop the knife he had to discharge it again.

When arrested, Buckley said he had been drinking up to six bottles of Desperados, a tequila flavoured beer, since 6pm and had been cutting himself because of voices he had been hearing.

The Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Timothy Clayson, was told how Buckley had decided to stop taking medication prescribed for his mental health because of adverse side effects, and as a result his mental state had deteriorated.

He claimed he had wanted the police car to go away, but did not want to harm anyone.

Steven Nikolich, defending, said Buckley has now resumed taking his medication and is enjoying a relatively happy family life.

Buckley pleaded guilty to affray and possessing a knife.

Sentencing Buckley to eight months in a Young Offenders’ Institution, suspended for 12 months, Judge Clayson told him: “You have, at last, come to realise that it is absolutely essential that you maintain your medication if you are going to be mentally well and refrain from behaviour like this.

“You have such a lot to live for and you can contribute a lot, so don’t go the wrong way.”

As part of his sentence, Buckley was told he must accept mental health treatment and undertake 20 days of rehabilitation activity.