A MUM who turned up at her child's school pleading for help as she felt suicidal should not have been brought to court, a sheriff said.

The mother-of-three was exhausted from caring for her severely autistic son and went to her daughter's primary saying she wanted to kill herself.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard the woman took her daughter to school around 8.35am on March 23, 2016 and asked to speak to a teacher.

The 33-year-old went to the head teacher's office where she was said to be "agitated" and told the head teacher she felt suicidal.

Depute Procurator Fiscal Imran Hussein told the court that, while in the office, she brought out a screwdriver and she laid it on the table.

The teacher removed the screwdriver from the table then took the mum to Glasgow Royal Infirmary where she was seen by the mental health team.

Police attended at Glasgow Royal Infirmary that afternoon.

The woman, from Royston, was cautioned and charged and taken to London Road police station.

Her defence lawyer said: "Prior to that she had not slept for four days.

"She is mother to three children aged 11, eight and three. The youngest has severe autism and requires her to pay attention to him on a constant basis.

"She was in a very emotional state on that morning having not slept.

"She was not intending to use the screwdriver, she just placed it on the table.

"She is very remorseful and appreciates this is a very serious incident."

The woman's defence lawyer told the court the woman had a very difficult background and had been in foster care.

She had recently made contact with her brother, who she had not seen in some years, but he died recently.

Sheriff Daniel Kelly said: "I have my doubts there was any point in bringing you to court for this.

"It was clearly a crying for help."

The woman was admonished.