A WINSFORD man threatened to kill himself after a dispute with his parents and then brandished an axe at police, a court heard.

Miss Cara Pickering, prosecuting, told Northwich magistrates on Wednesday last week how officers were called to a house in Woodford Lane at 7pm on Thursday, May 28.

On their arrival, Duncan Bennion, aged 20, of Clyde Crescent, was standing in the kitchen shouting at his parents.

The court heard that Bennion then went into the back garden and entered the shed to search for something, shouting that he was going to kill himself.

Police officers saw that he was in a distressed state of mind and believed that he was drunk.

Bennion then began wielding an axe, asking police to fight and shouting "come on then," Miss Pickering added.

He was twice asked to put down the axe, and did so finally at his brother's request.

But police said they feared for their own safety and that of Bennion's family due to the unpredictable nature of his behaviour.

Mr Quentin Querelle, defending, told the court how Bennion - who admitted an affray charge - was taking anti-depressants and that the incident had stemmed from a mixture of this medication and alcohol.

He added that Bennion had apologised to his parents and kept in regular contact with them since the incident, and that they now wanted their son back at their family home in Woodford Lane.

Mr Querelle said that Bennion had also referred himself to Denton House mental health resource centre, in Northwich, where he was receiving the appropriate help for his depression.

Bennion was issued with a probation order for 12 months, which included continued contact with Denton House.

He was also ordered to pay £60 towards court costs.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.