A MAN who admits illegal possession of an axe on a town street is currently showing significant signs of improvement while being treated in hospital, a judge was told.

Mario Kanovsky, 24, was charged and brought to court after an incident in Penrith which was reported to police at around 7.50pm on Sunday, December 5, 2021.

It was reported that a man had been seen in possession of an axe, and allegedly giving chase to people while carrying the implement. This incident occurred around the Morrisons supermarket fuel station forecourt, Cromwell Road.

When he appeared in front of a judge at Carlisle Crown Court earlier this year, homeless Kanovsky denied the charge. He was due to go on trial on Monday, but changed his plea and admitted illegally possessing a bladed article in public.

Recorder Peter Horgan asked for more information about the defendant’s mental health.

And on Tuesday, his treating consultant psychiatrist provided an update.

Kanovsky, he said, had been suffering from a psychotic illness and other issues when he had arrived at the hospital. He had received treatment and during that time there had been a 'significant improvement in his mental state'.

However, it was 'not currently' safe for Kanovsky to be released into the community without further treatment and it was proposed that he would remain in hospital for the time being.

In addition to medication being administered, social treatments — including stable accommodation financial and mental health support — were 'essential to maintain his progress', the doctor concluded.

As a result of his submissions, Kanovsky’s barrister Judith McCullough asked for the sentencing exercise to be adjourned so that further background information could be sought from experts.

Recorder Peter Horgan agreed to an adjournment, until October 4, and asked for reports from a probation officer and the doctor to be prepared in the meantime.

Addressing the defendant over a video link, Recorder Horgan said: “I am looking towards a sentence which will help you, not punish you further by locking you in prison against your will, in the form of community mental health treatment so that (the doctor) can be helped to help you.”

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