A DRUNKEN father armed himself with a kitchen knife when his partner tried to flee their home with their three children, a court was told yesterday

Neil Connor said he was going to kill himself, but lunged into a car with the 10in blade as Kelly Hancock attempted to escape.

He was said to have argued with his partner after she refused to allow him to go out drinking with his brother.

The unemployed 27-year-old had returned to his home in Shotton Colliery with his brother after a drinking session.

Teesside Crown Court was told he wanted to go back out, but the couple argued when Miss Hancock said they could not afford it.

Connor later told police he lost his temper because he thought he had been shown up in front of his brother, and began smashing things in the house.

Miss Hancock tried to call the police, but she was hurt in a struggle as Connor tried to wrestle the phone from her, said Ros Scott-Bell, prosecuting.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Miss Hancock's parents arrived to take their daughter and grandchildren away, and Connor tried to stop them leaving.

After they got into the car, Connor slammed shut the door of his home and grabbed the knife from the kitchen to end his life.

But when he went outside, Miss Hancock, her parents and the children were waiting for the police to arrive. Ms Scott-Bell said Connor kicked a back door of the car, knocked off a wing mirror and lunged in through a half-open door with the knife.

Miss Hancock repeatedly slammed the door on her partner's arm until he let go of the blade, before police turned up and arrested him.

Connor, now separated from Miss Hancock and living in Hazel Drive, Hesleden, admitted affray and possessing an offensive weapon on March 4 this year.

He was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to undergo two years of probation supervision.

Judge Peter Armstrong also ordered that Connor should attend a community domestic violence programme to help with any future relationships.

Lorraine Mustard, mitigating, said Miss Hancock described Connor as "an excellent dad" but said he struggled to contain his emotions when in drink.

"He fully acknowledges the gravity of what he has done and the effect it may have on his children, who are very important to him," said Miss Mustard.

"He accepts that the entire family would have found that situation frightening.

"He was not in full control of his emotions and was not thinking rationally."