A MAN who ran amok in the street with a samurai sword in a drunken attack after a night in the pub has been jailed for a year.

Michael Kearns waved the two-foot blade and hit a man with a scabbard after he asked him to keep the noise down.

The 36-year-old then bashed the hilt of the sword against the front door as the victim’s children slept inside, Swindon Crown Court was told.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, said two men were outside having a cigarette in Saxon Close, Cricklade, at 1am on Sunday, January 15 when Kearns and a friend passed by.

Kearns appeared to be drinking from a bottle of Magners cider and was asked to keep the noise down as there were children asleep inside.

He then started shouting and was held back by his friend, who managed to drag him towards a flat in Bath Road.

But he returned shortly after and shouted ‘I’m going to do you tomorrow, this is my town,’ and rushed towards the victim.

As the victim was hit on the arm with the scabbard he realised his attacker had a large sword in his other hand.

The two smokers retreated into their flat and heard Kearns hammering on the door and rattling the letter box. He remained there for about five minutes.

Mr Meeke said that the police were called and a firearms unit was sent to the scene.

As they were about to make a forced entry to the flat in Bath Road Kearns’ friend came out and told them he was asleep on the sofa and the sword was on a rack in the flat.

The three weapons were seized and pieces of metal from the largest one was found stuck in the victim’s door.

Kearns, of no fixed address, admitted threatening a person with a bladed article and common assault.

Lucy Stoker, defending, said her client had an alcohol problem made worse when his father was killed outside a nightclub in Newquay April 2013.

She said things were made worse when the bouncers accused of his manslaughter were found not guilty following a trial in Cornwall.

Despite his problems, which include the break down of his relationship, she said he was still an active father to his six-year-old daughter.

She said he was extremely sorry for what he had done.

Jailing him Judge Robert Pawson said: “It was not the spur of the moment. You went back, you armed yourself deliberately.”