A GAS company salesman was left shocked when a householder pulled out a knife and warned: "Don't smirk at me, I mean it, I'll cut you."

The official fled down the path but council house tenant John Bailey also terrorised a passer-by when he demanded money from her for food.

Bailey, 46, of Willance Grove, Richmond, North Yorkshire, admitted causing an affray and attempted robbery on February 4, when he appeared before Teesside Crown Court yesterday.

He avoided jail when the judge accepted he was suffering from a temporary disorder following the death of his brother and the decision to take his mother into care.

Judge Les Spittle told Bailey: "These are serious matters and, in particular the second charge of attempted robbery, but there are unusual features for both the cases.

"It appears that you are not suffering from any mental illness or psychiatric disorder that's ongoing but you were at the time.

"Your reaction to material and substantial changes in your life created a temporary mental condition."

Bailey was given a prison sentence suspended for two years, 12 months for affray and two years for attempted robbery.

Deborah Sherwin, prosecuting, said that gas company official Geoffrey Ramsdale had been unable to carry on his calls following his ordeal.

Passer-by Lesley-Ann Bright flagged down a passing car and fled after Bailey realised he had terrified her and apologised.

Three days after the incident, police were called to Bailey's house where he was in his underpants, shouting and behaving oddly.

He was treated in a hospital psychiatric wing for three weeks and experts identified the temporary adjustment disorder.

His barrister Christine Egerton said Bailey lived with his elder brother and his mother for 20 years but his brother died of cancer in May last year on the same day his mother was taken into a nursing home with dementia.

"He found himself alone. Clearly, he was having difficulty in coping," said the barrister.