A SPURNED boyfriend who planned on stabbing his love rival had a change of heart and handed himself in to police.

Michael James Hulme, 22, of Westbourne Road, in Selby, had drunk nine pints of cider when he decided to get a knife and go round to his former girlfriend’s house with the intention of “doing some damage” to her new boyfriend.

But on the way, in the early hours of March 5, he passed Selby Police Station in Portholme Road.

Sandra Potter, prosecuting, told Selby Magistrates’ Court that Hulme was drunk and emotional when he went into the front office of the police station and told the police officer he was afraid he would do someone some harm if left alone.

Hulme had his hand clenched around something in his pocket, and when he was asked to remove his hand a knife with a four-and-half-inch blade was found.

He was later charged with possessing a knife in a public place without reasonable excuse.

Miss Potter said Hulme had been planning to go to his former girlfriend’s house to confront her new boyfriend and use the knife on him.

Mitigating, Tamara Dove-O’Hara said her client was drunk and had realised he was in danger of committing a crime so handed himself in to the police.

She also said Hulme had been concerned because he had been told his girlfriend’s new boyfriend had recently been released from prison after serving a sentence for domestic violence.

Sentencing Hulme, Christine Dennis, chairman of the magistrates, said: “We do not consider the interests of justice would be served by sending you to prison today.

“Despite setting out to commit a serious crime you saw the error in this and went to the police station. Nonetheless, the possession of a bladed article in a public place is a very serious offence.”

Hulme was ordered to complete 100 hours community work and pay £85 costs and was given a curfew meaning he has to be at home between 7pm and 6am for the next eight weeks.

The knife will be forfeited and destroyed.