A HEAVY drinker took exception to a near neighbour giving alcohol to his own teenage step-son, a court heard.

Peter William Anderson, 40, went armed with a large kitchen knife to remonstrate with the man, at 10.45pm on September 25.

Durham Crown Court was told Anderson’s request for him to leave his house to fight with him was refused, but a short time later police were called to Everton Drive, in Seaham, to a report that two men were involved in a confrontation in the street, one armed with a knife.

When officers arrived they found Anderson with another man sitting on a wall, while an 8in-bladed knife was found nearby.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said Anderson immediately told the officers: “It was me. I had the knife.”

A witness told police that having failed to persuade the householder to come out to fight, a “very drunk” Anderson became involved in a row with another man in the street.

Mr Dryden said: “Police were told a brick was thrown at Anderson who responded by chasing him down the street.”

Anderson was arrested and conceded he was “very drunk”, but confirmed the preceding events as described to police.

Mr Dryden said there was an obvious danger of a man who, “by his own admission”, having consumed a large amount of alcohol, carrying such a weapon in public.

But he added it would appear it was never flourished, remaining at his side throughout.

The court was told Anderson has 45 offences for 25 convictions, but, until now, has kept out of trouble since 2005.

Anderson, of Everton Drive, admitted having a bladed article in public.

Ian Hudson, mitigating, told the court: “I concede from the outset that having a knife in such circumstances in public crosses the custody threshold.

“The catalyst was his belief his step-son was plied with alcohol and that’s why he went round to that house.

“He confessed that he took the knife, but there was no brandishing of it.

“He did have it at his side, and was very frank when police arrived.”

Judge Robert Adams said, given his recent clean record until this incident, his early admissions and the fact the knife was not flourished, he could avoid passing an immediate prison sentence.

He imposed a six-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, to include 12-month probation supervised alcohol-specific activity requirement.