A MAN who threatened to behead a bailiff with a meat cleaver has been jailed.

Council tax debtor Daniel Paul Johnson, 30, told the enforcement agent to get out of the house, said Joseph Hudson, prosecuting, at York Crown Court.

He grabbed hold of him, then let him go, and said “I am going to get this” as he picked up a meat cleaver with a blade eight to 10 inches long.

“I will take your .... head off,” Johnson told the bailiff and counted “one, two three” while holding the meat cleaver above his head.

As the victim retreated out of the house, Johnson followed him through the garden into the street with the weapon.

There he said: “I will take your face off.”

The bailiff, clearly showing his authorisation and wearing body protection, had called at Johnson’s home to collect a £280 council tax debt owed to City of York Council, said Mr Hudson.

The incident terrified him so much he abandoned his van and no longer wants to work in the area.

Judge Simon Hickey told Johnson it had to be prison if “you threaten a public official simply doing his public duty, both inside a house and outside, and you couple that with a weapon like this.”

Johnson, of Fifth Avenue, Tang Hall, pleaded guilty to carrying a blade in public.

He was jailed for 10 months.

Defence barrister Andrew Petterson said Johnson had run up debts by gambling, but had now stopped gambling and was sorting out his finances.

He had suffered a family tragedy in recent years that he had found hard to cope with, and suffered from depression and anxiety.

His family were supporting him including his mother, who the court heard was hoping he could start a new life with her in Australia.

A City of York Council spokesperson said: “We welcome the judge’s comments in support of the work of public officials and professional agents working on contract with the council.

“It is a difficult job which should never be met with threats or violence.

“We provide clear advice and offer support for residents to meet their obligations and so avoid the risk of enforcement action.”