ARMED police were called out when a drunken man chased a police officer with a 12-inch carving knife, a court was told yesterday.

Mark McManus, 25, ran amok after drinking at home with his wife and neighbours, said Aisha Wadoodi, prosecuting.

His wife phoned police when he began wrecking the house and grabbed the knife, threatening to kill a man who lived up the street, Teesside Crown Court was told.

A police officer was walking towards the house when McManus jumped from a window shouting "I'm going to kill you" and made stabbing motions at him.

The officer radioed for help and sprayed McManus with a pepper spray as he jumped on the police car. McManus ran off to his father-in-law's home nearby, where he was followed by armed officers.

Miss Wadoodi said: "He eventually walked out with his hands up in the air." The court heard he had previous convictions for assault on police and other violent acts.

Judge Peter Fox QC told him: "These courts will give all the protection that they can to police officers in such circumstances."

McManus of Smyth Place, Hartlepool, was jailed for 18 months after he pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon on September 6 last year, making a threat to kill, and two offences of criminal damage.