POLICE had to call a mental health crisis team 30 times after arresting a woman who went to see her ex armed with kitchen knives and later said she would kill him.

Officers needed Emma Jane Louise Jansen to be assessed but they ended up having to lock her up for 26 hours because no-one would attend.

Defence solicitor Miss Maureen Fawcett told Furness Magistrates' Court she has written a letter of complaint to Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust about her client's treatment.

Prosecutor Mr Lee Dacre said: "The circumstances are that this defendant was in a relationship with Peter Cahill from March 2015. On May 14 this year he ended it. They initially kept in touch by text as she had items at his house. Then he decided that needed to stop so he could move on. But, she continued to text.

"At 5.40pm on May 17 Mr Cahill arrived home from work and saw the defendant stood outside his home on Marsh Street. He carried on driving to avoid her and went shopping, returning home about 7.20pm. At 11.20pm he got a text off the defendant saying 'I came around yours with an ulterior motive. I brought two knives around to kill you. I have been sectioned.'

"He believed she would have stabbed him if he had got out of the car. He called the police and she admitted she went with the knives to kill him. She said if he had stopped she might have used them.

"Mr Cahill says he just wants it to stop. He feels fearful each time he goes outside in case she's there. He just wants a quiet life."

Jansen, of Holker Street, Barrow, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a knife and one of sending a threatening text.

Miss Fawcett added: "She came down in the night to hear her boyfriend on the phone to someone talking about her personality disorders and she was upset about that. The relationship ended and she tried to take her own life three times in one week. She was crying out for help.

"On that day she went to Wilkos and bought two kitchen knives and went to his house.

"She apologises for her actions. She ended up being held over two, nearly three days with court. Police couldn't get the crisis team to come and access her. They made 30 calls to the crisis team over that period.

"I have written a letter of complaint to the trust."

After a lengthy deliberation magistrates said she had possession of two knives and was of a "real risk to the safety of Mr Cahill." They added that if it wasn't for her mental health issues she would have been jailed by the crown court.

They gave her a 26-week prison term, suspended for two years.

She was also told to pay £85 court costs and a £115 victim surcharge.

Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said: "We are extremely concerned to hear about this case as described in court.

"We have not received a complaint relating to this, however we will investigate the circumstances in order to establish the facts and take appropriate steps following this. We are working closely with Cumbria police and our health partners on ways we can work together to provide better support for those with mental health conditions in this situation."

A spokesperson for Cumbria Constabulary said: "We and Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust work closely when dealing with people believed to be in mental health crisis. The welfare of the detainee, whilst ensuring relevant safeguards are in place, are at the forefront of our actions. Agreed local policies exist to ensure people are dealt with as quickly as possible."