A MAN with a record of violence was behind bars today after threatening to slit an old friend's throat and "bleed him dry".

Kevin Beardsell's previous convictions which have landed him in jail include manslaughter, affray and a drunken incident of air rage in which he attacked his then girlfriend, spat at a child and headbutted the flight deck door.

The 40-year-old's latest offence was an alcohol-fuelled tirade of abuse outside a York couple's home.

He was jailed for 15 months after pleading guilty at York Crown Court to causing an affray on October 19, 2002.

The incident happened after Beardsell's friendship with a man named James Fisher turned sour.

Heather Humpage, prosecuting, said he appeared to hold a grudge against Mr Fisher and his partner, Donna Precious.

Beardsell, formerly of the Ponderosa caravan site, Sutton-on-Forest, and then of Whitemare Corner, Barbeck, near Thirsk, went to their York home.

Mr Fisher refused to open the door to him, instead taking his children upstairs, from where he spoke to Beardsell through a window.

Beardsell shouted obscenities before launching a garden pot at the house.

Miss Humpage said: "He shouted 'I am going to shoot you. I am going to slit your throat and bleed you dry'."

She said a neighbour who intervened was warned to back off or he would burn her house down.

Miss Humpage said he then threatened to kill anyone who called the police.

Miss Humpage said the couple "have lived in fear of him" and had installed CCTV cameras at their home. They had also stopped their children playing outside.

Taryn Turner, mitigating, confirmed the men's friendship had broken down.

"Fuelled by alcohol, which was a particular problem for this defendant, he acted on impulse and went to visit the complainant."

She said he was a reformed character, with a new partner and baby.

Judge Paul Hoffman said Beardsell had a "shocking record for violence and public order offences".

He gave credit for his guilty plea, but said: "This was a nasty offence, accompanied by threats to kill, shoot, slit the complainant's throat and burn his house down. It has had a significant affect on them."

A second charge of affray and witness intimidation will remain on file.

Updated: 10:39 Tuesday, August 03, 2004