A 34-YEAR-OLD woman who threatened two boys with a knife after they had asked her the time has been spared an immediate jail sentence.

Toni Nally, of Freemantle Avenue, Thatto Heath had admitted to a charge of possession of a bladed article in a public place after the incident on Tuesday, April 10.

Prosecutor Kenneth Grant told the court that Nally had taken out a kitchen knife after being approached by the two youths on Sutton Heath Road.

After they asked Nally the time, she said to them: “If you come any closer, I’ll stab you both”, producing the knife “from a coat pocket”.

One of the youths said to Nally “put the knife down” and told the police about the incident.

The court heard the boys had “done nothing to offend” Nally.

When officers arrested Nally they took a “black-handled kitchen knife”.

However, judge Recorder Richard Archer acknowledged this was “no ordinary case” and said Nally had a “mental illness” and had been suffering “auditory and visual hallucinations”.

Defending, William Beardmore said Nally had previously experienced “antisocial behaviour” from youths, including having a brick thrown through her front window in March and that Nally had the knife on her for “self defence”.

The court heard Nally had 12 previous convictions relating to shop theft offences while she dealt with a “drug problem”.

In passing a suspended sentence, Recorder Archer said the fact a psychiatrist “believes you to need structured rehabilitation” and her work with Women’s Turnaround meant he believed the “risk you posed to the public will be reduced”.

Nally was given a 23-week sentence, suspended for two years and 20 days of rehabilitation activity and a statutory surcharge.

He said “I think it is enough to give you the support that you need.”

The judge also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the knife.