A FATHER of two who pulled out a 3ft sword and threatened a police officer has kept his freedom.

Burnley magistrates heard "devoted family man" Andrew Charles Coffey, 45, behaved totally out of character after his wife of 23 years went to Australia to see a man she met on the internet and then ignored her husband when she got back.

Coffey, thinking nothing would come of the long-distance romance, had excitedly gone to Burnley bus station to pick her up on her return - but was told by his wife she wanted nothing more to do with him.

Mrs Coffey then went straight back on to her computer without saying another word to him.

The defendant first got a knife and then armed himself with the ornamental sword. He ended up being CS gassed after "popping up from behind a bush," with the weapon, waving it around and pointing it at PC Mark Whittaker.

Coffey, of Alderway, Gawthorpe Edge Mobile Park, Padiham, admitted affray on July 29.

He was given 160 hours community punishment and ordered to pay £75 costs.

The bench told him prison would not serve any purpose for him nor his family.

Michael Cunningham, prosecuting, told the court that, after arriving back home from her trip, the defendant's estranged wife noticed her husband at her bedroom door with a knife in his hand.

He told her: "If I can't have you, nobody will. I'm going to finish it now."

She thought she was going to be stabbed, got a cushion for protection and phoned the police while Coffey went outside. PC Whittaker arrived at the scene and told Mrs Coffey to go inside. He repeatedly warned the defendant to drop the sword, Mr Cunningham said.

Coffey waved the weapon around in a threatening manner, lunging it at the officer and when he would not put it down, was gassed in the face.

Mr Cunningham said Coffey was then disarmed and taken away.

He said the offence was something which could have escalated into something far more serious.

There could have been an horrendous incident and horrendous injuries if the sword had been used.

Mark Irlam, defending, said Coffey was a hard-working, honest man who adored his family.

But the couple had started leading separate lives.

He said Coffey suffered tinnitus and did not hear the officer telling him to put the sword down.

The solicitor added: "This is one incident on one night that this defendant deeply regrets and will deeply regret for the rest of his life."