A MAN threatened a neighbour with a carving knife because he thought she had branded him a paedophile on Facebook.

Noel Clifford armed himself with the foot-long blade when he and his mum went to confront the woman about the online comments.

As the doorstep slanging match escalated the 26-year-old pulled the carving knife from under his top and waved it about.

Then after throwing the weapon into a flower bed he pushed his victim, causing her to fall backwards in her hallway - while her children, aged six and nine, watched.

Clifford, of Parklands, admitted common assault and possessing a bladed article.

Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, told magistrates in Swindon how the incident took place on Parklands, Malmesbury, on the morning of September 1.

He said the victim had been concerned about Clifford's behaviour online, believing he had been contacting underage girls, and had commented one of his posts was an inappropriate message.

The following morning she woke to a banging on the door and when she

answered she was confronted with the defendant's mum, with him behind her.

"She was telling her she should not post messages about her son and he isn't a pervert," he said.

As the women argued Clifford also started to shout abuse and then pulled up his top and produced the carving knife.

Mr Ballinger said: "He started waving it at her, trying to intimidate her. She told him to leave, he told her he was going to stab her. She says he lunged at her."

He said the defendant then threw the knife into a flower bed before lunging against and pushing over the woman in front of her children.

When he was questioned he said the victim had called him a paedophile when his mum was arguing with her, and he only meant to frighten her.

Tony Nowogrodzki, defending, said his client had mental health problems and learning difficulties and had been home educated after being bullied.

He said Clifford was upset after seeing an online post that he had been inappropriately following 10-year-old girls.

"He should have just blocked the person and not got in a monologue with what can only be described as a bunch of oafs," he said.

Clifford, who the court was told is on benefits, was put on a two-year community order with 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement, and given a £100 fine and £170 in costs and surcharge.