A JILTED lover threatened to kill her boyfriend with a bread knife during a drink-fuelled row in front of their baby, a court heard yesterday.

Helen Davison, 25, had drunk half a litre of vodka before taking her nine-week-old son and three-year-old daughter to see their father, David Scott.

But a discussion over contact rights turned into a row and Davison grabbed the knife, warning police she was going to murder her former boyfriend.

She only put down the weapon when officers threatened to spray her with CS gas.

Davison, of Orchard Street, Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, pleaded guilty to affray at Consett Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Geoffrey Taylor, prosecuting, said: "She had half a bottle of vodka to drink. On a scale of one to ten for drunkenness, she put herself at number seven. She couldn't recall fully what happened."

Police were called to Mr Scott's home in Grey Terrace, Stanley, but were unable to calm the defendant.

Mr Taylor said: "She was threatening to kill Mr Scott, saying 'I am going to kill that bastard'. She then removed an 8in serrated kitchen knife from the knife block."

In mitigation, the court was told Mr Scott's new partner had been harassing the defendant since the couple split up.

The bench also heard how Davison, now living with her mother, was seeking help for her alcohol misuse.

She was sentenced to a one-year community rehabilitation order and told to pay £55 in costs.