A FATHER threatened to “wrap an axe round the neck” of his daughter’s boyfriend, York magistrates heard.

Raymond Heath took the weapon to Ashley Kilner’s home, and broke his car window and damaged his front door at night, said Martin Butterworth, prosecuting.

Mr Kilner, inside, heard someone say: “I am going to kill you.” He then heard a police officer, summoned by Heath’s wife, say “Drop the axe”.

Asked about the vandalism, Heath said: “I was going to do more than that, I was going to wrap the axe round his neck.”

His solicitor Keith Haggerty said he had been suffering from an undiagnosed serious condition, had not been sleeping well and the family had been subjected to “very serious threats” from a third man.

“Everything has got on top of him and three pints of alcohol has clearly uninhibited his normal restraint,” said Mr Haggerty.

Heath, 52, of Holray Park, Carlton, near Selby, pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in public and two charges of criminal damage.

He received a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and was ordered to pay £565 including £450 compensation to Mr Kilner, £85 costs and an £80 statutory charge.

Mr Haggerty said the “axe” was a log-splitter Heath happened to have in his car.