A KNIFEMAN who terrorised a street was jailed for five years yesterday.

Ian Whitfleld, 24, had drunk four litres of cider when he ran amok with the knife, which had a serrated double edge.

He attacked a taxi driver in Stockton and cut one of his ears, then climbed into a house in Danby Court, Stockton, where a family were sleeping. The father calmed him with a cigarette and he left, but outside he made threats to kill.

Then he hammered on a student's door nearby, and forced his way inside the flat before he was disarmed and arrested, said Adrian Moore, prosecuting.

Judge Peter Fox, who was shown photographs of the knife, said: "My first impression is that it is one of the most dangerous weapons that one could imagine."

Chris Baker, in mitigation, said Whitfield had been drinking four litres of cider a day at the time of the offence, and he had vowed to never touch alcohol again.

Whitfield, of Swainby Road, Tilary, Stockton, was jailed for five years after he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, aggravated burglary with intent, aggravated burglary and making a threat to kill.

The judge ordered that the knife should be destroyed.