A MAN who accused his neighbour of "kissing and cuddling" his girlfriend while brandishing a large kitchen knife has received a suspended jail term.

Scott Hacking, 31, had pleaded guilty to the possession of a bladed article and common assault prior to yesterday's hearing at Bradford Crown Court.

The court heard that on November 23 last year, Shaun Ward and his partner Stacy had been at home with their three children in Troutbeck Avenue, Baildon, when Hacking burst through the kitchen door with the knife in his hand.

He accused Mr Ward of "kissing and cuddling" with his partner Samantha, before running away down the garden towards his home in Coniston Grove, Baildon.

Prosecutor Mehran Nassiri said Mr Ward pursued Hacking, who then threatened him, causing the family to have concerns for the safety of their children.

Police later attended Hacking's house and found him hiding in the loft.

He said he had only had a verbal argument with Mr Ward, and denied possession of the knife.

In mitigation, Stephen Wood said Hacking had not taken the knife with the intent of causing any injury, and was engaging with social services and drug and alcohol teams to deal with his excessive drinking.

Sentencing Hacking to 12 months in prison, suspended for a year, Judge David Hatton said: "You were involved in an altercation where there is clearly a background of animosity.

"That did not entitle you to take a knife to frighten and intimidate those people.

"You did it as you were fuelled by drink, which has been a problem for you for some time."