Following the call, staff at Stowmarket police station looked out of a window and saw Roy Messenger standing on a path leading to the front door holding a carrier bag, Ipswich Crown Court heard.
When officers went outside they prised a barbecue fork out of Messenger’s hands aftera struggle and arrested him, said Michael Crimp, prosecuting.
Messenger told officers he was “at his wits end” and would be better off in prison.
The court heard he had a previous conviction in 2006 for having an article with a blade and was liable to a mandatory six month prison sentence unless the court considered it would be unjust.
Messenger, 52, of Eastward Place, Stowmarket, admitted having an offensive weapon and was given a three year community order and a rehabilitation activity requirement.
Sentencing him Recorder Clive Jones said Messenger’s problems stemmed from a fall while working for the Post Office which had been made worse by his drinking. He said it would be unjust to send him to prison.
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