A York brother who threatened to kill two of his relatives after a family row is today behind bars for eight months.

Twenty-two police officers answered the night call for help from the Ferguson family in Lucas Avenue on June 17, York magistrates heard.

Prosecutor Mike Duffy told the court that Paul Ashley Mark Ferguson, 27, had smashed furniture including damaging the radiator in his bedroom.

Police arrested him within 15 minutes. As he was being led away, he shouted out: "You have stitched me up with the police, well I will slash you."

"This (threat) was made towards both the uncle and brother," said Mr Duffy.

Ferguson, now of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill towards John and Shaun Ferguson and criminal damage to property belonging to Margaret Ripley.

He was on bail at the time awaiting sentence for one charge of driving while under the influence of a drug, two of driving whilst disqualified and one of driving without insurance. All the car offences were committed in 2000 and admitted.

Magistrates jailed him for eight months and banned him for two years.

Mr Duffy said the argument began when Paul Ferguson's mother failed to give him some money. He had refused to give a blood sample when arrested on the drug-driving charge, but told police he had taken diazepam.

Defending Ferguson, Lee Goodchild said he had been very volatile when the argument started at the family home where he was then living with his mother and 39-year-old brother.

He accepted that he had shouted something to his brother, but not what it was.

After the row, he had left the house for about 15 minutes only to find police had arrived in his absence.

He wanted to go to jail so he could have some stability in his life and to get help.

He was recovering from a heroin addiction, had few social skills and had had problems with his education.

He had got the diazepam legally.

Updated: 09:11 Tuesday, June 26, 2001