A woman held police at bay with a carving knife during a suicide bid, a court heard.

Lisa Martin threatened to stab officers as they tried to reason with her at her home in Carden Avenue, Brighton.

Martin, 30, a hospital technical officer, was handcuffed and arrested when she went to her bedroom after becoming tired.

She was given a two-year community rehabilitation order at Lewes Crown Court today after admitting affray at an earlier hearing.

Timothy Bergin, prosecuting, said police called at her home on November 20 last year and forced the door to find her sitting in a chair brandishing a 7in kitchen knife.

Mr Bergin said: "She threatened first to stab herself and then threatened to kill the officers if they came near her.

"Something of a Mexican stand-off developed as the officers tried to reason with her."

Graham Smith, defending, said: "She is a divorcee who has a history of threatening to harm herself since her sister died in 1996.

"She is extremely remorseful about what happened and would like to thank the officers involved for the way in which they dealt with her."