A 19-YEAR-OLD Darwen man brandishing two kitchen knives was seen chasing another man through the streets at 7am.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Thomas Nicol was chasing his cousin who he had fallen out with after a party. He later told police he was so drunk he could remember nothing of the incident, but the chairman of the magistrates said that was an excuse heard far too often in the courts.

"As far as we are concerned that is no excuse at all," said the chairman.

Nicol, of Hazel Avenue, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour, damaging two windows belonging to Joseph Nicol Docherty and possession of two kitchen knives in a public place on Sunday.

He was remanded on bail until August 23 after the magistrates ordered the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Francis McIntee, prosecuting, said Nicol and his cousin had become involved in an argument which Mr Docherty said ended when he thumped the other man to stop him attacking him. Nicol broke a window before leaving his cousin's home.

Later when Mr Docherty went out and was confronted by Nicol and when he asked what he was going to do with the knives Nicol said: "I'm going to cut you up."

"Not surprisingly Mr Docherty ran off and he was chased by his cousin brandishing the knives," said Mr McIntee.

John Dewhurst, defending, said that as he had told the police Nicol could not remember anything about the incident. "At 7am on Sunday morning he was drunk and he is receptive to the fact that he needs help with his drink problem," said Mr Dewhurst.