A DRUNKEN mother held a knife in the back of a neighbour's son when a dispute over where he parked his car blew up, a court heard.

After a boozing session last Christmas, Tracy Thirling, 48, lost her temper with Matthew Lightfoot and his girlfriend Lauren Clark.

She had a row with Mr Lightfoot in the street and went back into her home to pick up a fearsome kitchen knife with a ten-inch blade.

He was grabbed from behind and felt a sharp object in his back, while drunk Thirling menacingly yelled: "Come on, you c***, move."

A neighbour intervened and ordered her to put down the weapon, but she replied: "I don't f***ng care. I'm sick of it. I've had enough."

Prosecutor Mark Styles told Teesside Crown Court that the peace-maker twisted Thirling's wrist and forced her to drop the knife.

Thirling, of Norby Estate, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, was given a suspended jail term after admitting affray and having a bladed article.

Her barrister, Dan Cordey, told the court there had been no further reports of trouble since the dispute on December 28 last year.

"She realises her actions were wholly wrong and she has done everything she can to stay out of the way," said Mr Cordey.

"It is a complicated position because Matthew Lightfoot's brother is about to be the father of the defendant's grandchild."

The court heard that Thirling also has an 11-year-old son, and the judge told her: "You have put you child's welfare at risk."

Recorder Mark McKone added: "The courts have seen many similar incidents involving ordinary decent people which lead to death and a minimum sentence of 20 years."

Thirling was given eight months, suspended for 18 months, with 12 months of Probation Service supervision to examine her drinking.