A MAN was “sliding on his stomach”, “hiding behind a fence”, and holding a knife to the sky in a course of bizarre behaviour.

David Anderson, 45, of Patchins Road, Poole, pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in his former partner’s front garden in Russell Gardens.

He was given a 30 day community order at Bournemouth Crown Court on December 8.

Prosecuting, Leigh Hart said Anderson was seen by his former partner, who he is still friends with, acting strangely.

He was sliding on his stomach towards the front door and waving a knife in the air.

Mitigating, Tim Bradbury said the defendant was suffering from alcohol withdrawal as well as a chest infection.

As a result of this, he was hallucinating and thought people were out to get him.

He went to Russell Gardens to seek refuge and didn’t threaten anyone with the knife.

Judge Brian Forster QC said it would have been unjust to send Anderson to prison.

Judge Forster made the defendant subject to an alcohol treatment requirement and ordered him to carry out 42 rehabilitation requirement days.