A DRUNK man lunged at his next door neighbour with a kitchen knife in a 'stabbing motion' but his 'robust' neighbour fought back, pushing him to the ground and warning him to 'stay down'.

Martin Corns came to Mark Leverton's door in Powys Walk, Newton Farm, Hereford, in an attempt to get an address for his former neighbour who had previously lived at the house and whom he claimed had been threatening him and his family.

Corns, now of Portland Street, Moorfields, Hereford, admitted possession of a knife and affray when he appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Friday following the incident on June 16.

Mr Leverton brought the 40-year-old defendant to the ground and told him: "Stay down. If you don't stay down I'll put you down!"

John Brotherton, prosecuting, said Corns was seen looking through the glass in the back door of his neighbour's house.

When Mr Leverton answered the door Corns said he needed the address of the people who previously lived at the house.

Mr Leverton, who had only been living there six weeks, could smell alcohol and noticed Corns was 'slurring his speech'.

He was aware Corns did not get on with the previous occupants and tried to deflect the question, asking Corns: "Do you think it's appropriate to be here? I have young children in bed."

However, the defendant replied 'it's not that late' and 'I need that address' but Mr Leverton refused.

Corns then raised his arms and pushed the door open and said: "You're giving me that address."

Mr Leverton warned Corns: "If you don't leave now, I will remove you."

Mr Brotherton said: "At that point the defendant took his right hand off the door, keeping his left hand on the frame. He reached behind his back with his right and pulled out a kitchen knife with an eight inch blade and lunged forward with that knife in a stabbing motion towards the complainant's stomach."

However, Mr Leverton stepped to one side to avoid and kicked out with his right leg, making contact with the defendant, causing him to go backwards and stumble before pushing him towards the rear gate. He shouted at his daughter to call the police and Mr Leverton pushed the defendant over onto the grass and shouted 'drop the knife now!'

Corns threw the knife over a fence. It was later found on the roof of Mr Leverton's van.

Mr Leverton warned Corns: "If you don't stay down I will put you down!"

In police interview Corns said he had intended to 'go around and kill' his former neighbour (not Mr Leverton). "The knife wasn't intended for the complainant" said Mr Brotherton.

Corns told officers he did not intend to hurt his neighbour and said: "I wanted the threats to my family to stop."

Michael Aspinall described his client's actions as 'out of character' and said the complainant had responded to the situation 'with fortitude'.

He said when Mr Leverton told the defendant to 'stay down' he did so, clutching a washing pole.

"It was stupid. He recognises that" said Mr Aspinall who told the judge his client had sought help for his addiction.

"The way he dealt with this particular problem was, quite frankly, ridiculous" said Mr Aspinall.

Judge Jim Tindal praised Mr Leverton's 'strength of character' and commended the 'robust' and level-headed way he approached 'a very difficult situation', describing it as 'very impressive'.

Judge Jim Tindal told Corns: "If there was ever someone who should stay off alcohol it's you. What's clear is that you have a Jekyll and Hyde relationship with drink. Really, what on earth were you were thinking?"

He told Corns he owed it to his partner to stay off drink.

"But for her you would be in prison" said judge Tindal, referring to Corns's partner who sobbed from the public gallery throughout the hearing.

Judge Tidal sentenced him to 12 months in prison suspended for two years, ordered him to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and placed him on a three month curfew between 9pm and 6am.

He must also complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.