was yesterday remanded in custody pending the results of psychiatric and social reports.

Albert Dawson, 33, was arrested after he became abusive with officers following a suicide attempt on January 8.

Police prosecutor Insp. Peter Duffy said that at 9.55 p.m., officers were called to Devon Springs Road where they were informed that a man had attempted to kill himself.

The officers entered Dawson's home where they found him on the floor with a 6-inch kitchen knife beside him. There was a wound to his left wrist which did not appear to be life-threatening, his eyes were glazed, his speech slurred and his breath smelled of liquor, said Insp. Duffy.

Dawson was taken to the emergency room of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Once inside, he verbally abused the officers, upsetting some of those in the waiting room.

When he was told to behave, Dawson told the officers: "Let me kill myself, I've got nothing to live for.'' Insp. Duffy said Dawson received five stitches and was taken to Hamilton Police Station where he again became abusive. He was remanded in custody but by the next morning was subdued and released on bail.

Dawson's disruptive behaviour, said Insp. Duffy, meant St. Brendan's hospital would not accept him because of the influence he might have on other patients.

Yesterday, Insp. Duffy told Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis that Dawson had a history of alcohol abuse. He said that when he drank he became severely depressed, attempting suicide as a relief.

He said that five similar attempts were made by Dawson in 1990, five in 1992 and three so far this year. Of the attempts, eight involved cuts to Dawson's wrists, three were of strangulation and two involved the ingestion of a noxious substance.

"Once he sobers up he seems quite normal,'' Insp. Duffy said, "but he is causing a lot of concern to the department, and one day he will end up with a successful suicide attempt.'' Insp. Duffy said that although Dawson had never attacked his wife or their children, Police were also concerned that one of them might come to harm if they tried to prevent Dawson from killing himself.

And he said that constantly responding to Dawson kept the officers from attending to other duties.

"(His actions) have caused sufficient concern for the Commissioner to write to the director of social services,'' said Insp. Duffy. "He has made three attempts in eight days.''