THE terrified parents of a man with a violent past had to call police when he turned aggressive, a court heard yesterday.

Michael Hammond, prosecuting, told magistrates in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, how James Kilpatrick refused to allow officers into the house and that he turned his aggression on them.

When they entered the house, police found a frightened older man in the front room with Kilpatrick, who had his fists clenched and his arms raised, standing in a hostile and aggressive manner.

Mr Hammond said Kilpatrick, 31, of Oakdale Avenue, Harrogate, struggled violently when police moved in to arrest him, and that it took two officers to handcuff him and drag him to their van.

Kilpatrick admitted disorderly behaviour, resisting police, failing to answer bail, deception and driving while disqualified and uninsured.

Geoffrey Boothby, in mitigation, said Kilpatrick, who was reconciled with his parents, had bought a car in a pub car park for his girlfriend to use, but had been stopped by police within minutes.

The incident involving his parents had followed a row at his sister's home nearby, during which he had cut one of his wrists.

He had gone to his parents' house to get treatment and his mother rang the police.

Mr Boothby said Kilpatrick, who has convictions for violence and affray, now tried to stay out of trouble, after bullying while he was serving a 21-month prison sentence had left him suffering anxiety and depression.

He said sending him back inside would not help him, but that a community punishment order would also provide therapy for him.

Ordering him to carry out 160 hours of unpaid community work and pay £120 costs, court chairwoman Mary Tennant told Kilpatrick that for a man with his record, it was his final chance.