A JEALOUS axeman attacked his love rival in his former girlfriend's house at the dead of night, York Crown Court heard.

Craig John Gregson, 29, kicked down the front door of Melaine Hodgson Stockhill's home after she had locked it against him, said prosecutor Stephanie Kerr.

"He then rushed straight through into the living room where Philip Barber was. The defendant had an axe with him," said Mrs Kerr.

"He grabbed Mr Barber by the throat and pushed him against the wall."

Gregson raised his right arm above Mr Barber, but Ms Hodgson Stockhill intervened and Gregson fled the house in Station Road, Haxby.

Gregson, of Tang Hall Lane, York, pleaded guilty to affray.

Judge Gavin Barr Young said he could not understand why the prosecution had dropped a more serious charge against Gregson of aggravated burglary with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to Mr Barber. He adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report and warned Gregson that he would almost certainly be jailed.

Geoff Parsons reserved Gregson's mitigation pending his return to court in about four weeks' time.

Mrs Kerr said that Ms Hodgson Stockhill and Gregson had been in a relationship that had ended in June. He had had difficulty accepting this.

On August 20, she and Mr Barber had returned to her home after a night out together and were watching television at about midnight when they heard a noise on the window.

It was Gregson and when he asked to come in, Ms Hodgson Stockhill refused and locked the front door.

He then kicked it open and burst in carrying an axe with a six-inch metal head.

Updated: 10:28 Saturday, October 04, 2003