A nurse who defused a potentially dangerous situation when a Chirk man took out a knife in an accident and emergency department has been praised for her care and fortitude.

Mark Andrew Davies, who threw the knife towards the nursing sister and threatened to stab his ex-wife's new partner, was jailed.

Davies, 46, admitted having a steak knife with him at Wrexham Maelor Hospital on August 2, but said the only person he threatened was himself.

At Mold Crown Court, Davies, of St Mary's Close, was jailed for 12 months after he admitted possessing a blade in public.

Judge Niclas Parry said that while subject to a suspended sentence he had gone to the hospital with a knife.

He had a previous conviction involving the possession of an axe.

"You entered the accident and emergency department at Wrexham Maelor Hospital brandishing a knife," the judge told him.

"You were making threats that you would kill a person and threatened to stab anyone who might stop you.

"Thanks to the fortitude and humanity of Sister Jessica Roberts, she managed to defuse the situation.

"Although she believed the threats were genuine, her main concern was to care for the defendant."

Judge Parry added: "People who brandish knives when in a volatile situation as you were pose a real danger of serious harm."

The defendant pleaded guilty and when he had calmed down, he listened to advice.

Before being taken from the dock, the defendant told the judge how he had been desperate for help for four years and while he "had promises and promises" nothing had happened.

Davies had previous convictions for seven offences and the latest incident put him in breach of a suspended prison sentence.