A DRUNKEN man who terrorised his sister in a family feud after the death of their father has been spared jail.

Giovanni Ligreci, 53, had repeatedly phoned his sister, threatening to kill her and had told her he would slit her throat. Victim Carmela Legreci feared for the safety of herself and their elderly mother in the three day campaign, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The defendant, of Birtwistle Street, Great Harwood, admitted harassment. He was given 26 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, with two years supervision and the addressing substance related offending programme.

Mercedah Jabbari, prosecuting, said the defendant's father died in January. On May 16 Carmela Legreci received a number of threatening phone calls from her brother.

Miss Jabbari said both Miss Legreci and her mother had had to move and did not want the defendant finding out where they had gone. Legreci had 40 previous convictions.

Nick Courtenay, defending, said Legreci intended no harm to his sister. There had been a falling out after the death of their father. The defendant accepted his behaviour was completely wrong.