A MAN who leapt in front of a train while suffering from mental illness has been given a three-year community order.

But Judge Alistair McCreath warned Michael Harwood that if he did not keep in touch with the psychiatric services and moderate his drinking, he could be brought back to court and jailed.

Harwood, of Golden Post, Hereford, was standing on the platform of Liverpool's Lime Street station when he jumped down on to the track.

Two trains stopped in time and Harwood berated one driver, branding him a fat scouse'' and threatened to do him in'', Worcester Crown Court was told.

When police arrested 28-year-old Harwood after watching CCTV footage of the incident, he spat at two officers. His behaviour caused a 10-hour rail delay at a cost of £2,312.

Defence counsel Andrew Davidson said Harwood went to Liverpool for family support after a personal disappointment. He lost control after heavy drinking and tried to commit suicide.

The judge told him: It was an awful thing you did. You must have caused the train drivers the most appalling anxiety. Had you not been mentally ill I would have jailed you for a long time.'' Harwood confirmed that he was taking his medication for schizophrenia and had cut down his drinking.

He pleaded guilty to obstructing an engine and to two common assaults on the police.