A MAN threatened to kill his neighbour during an argument, a court heard.

Martin Beecham, of Bawtry Court in Padgate, appeared in Warrington Magistrates' Court on Monday to be sentenced for using threatening words and behaviour and making threats to kill.

Rob Youds, prosecuting, said the 37-year-old had been neighbours with the victim for nine years.

There had been a dispute between them previously but this was not mentioned for two years before the latest incident on February 3.

The court was told that the victim heard a knock on his front door and opened it to find Beecham, as he described, 'off his head.'

A witness said they heard a conversation about money before Beecham screamed 'I am going to kill you, I am going to open you up'.

The court heard he also lunged at the victim and grabbed him around his throat.

This was done in the presence of children.

Beecham returned home but 10 minutes later, was shouting the same threats.

His father then arrived and took Beecham home and he continued to shout threats through the window.

Beecham has 19 previous convictions for 27 offences.

Beecham, representing himself in court, said: "I am sorry for what happened.

"I am sorry for wasting your time."

He also agreed to abide by whatever sentence the court deemed appropriate and said he would not react that way again.

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Chair of the magistrates' bench, Gillian Beckett, said the offence had crossed the custody threshold.

She explained: "There were children present when the threats were made."

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Beecham was given an eight-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

He was also made subject to a 25-day community order and told to pay court costs and a victim surcharge.