A man who tried to scare off a troublesome neighbour by wielding a samurai sword in the street has been given an 18-month supervised community order with 150 hours' unpaid work.
Callum Crawford (29), of Gillman Road, New Parks, Leicester, pleaded guilty in Leicester Magistrates' Court to possessing the sword in a public place on September 22.
Prosecutor Mark Williams said police were called to a house in Warwick Street, Black Friars, early in the morning and saw Crawford waving the sword around in the street.
He was arrested for affray.
Mr Williams said: "When interviewed he said he had heard banging downstairs on the front door and saw someone holding a pole-like item, so he went to get the samurai sword.
"He claimed he was waving the sword towards the ground, not above his head."
Crawford told the court he felt threatened by a neighbour who he claimed was outside.
He said: "My kids were in the house and I wanted to scare him away from the door. I know I should not have done it and I am sorry I did it."
Probation officer David Charlton said: "Mr Crawford does not know the neighbour very well. He lives with his parents but, on the night in question, he was staying with his partner and their three children.
"He heard a banging noise from next door and shouted for the neighbour to stop. The neighbour took offence and came around with what appeared to be a metal pole and started banging on the window with it. He (Crawford) took the sword in an attempt to scare the neighbour away."
Mr Charlton said the offence was not committed while Crawford was under the influence of drugs or alcohol and there were no mental health issues involved.
The magistrates imposed an 18-month supervised community order, including attending an anger management programme and to do 150 hours unpaid work.
Crawford was ordered to pay £85 costs.
