AN "angry" man who attacked another man on his doorstep and threatened him with a knife is starting a six month jail term.

Jason Gray, 33, was told by a judge he had a "volatile temperament," and only custody could be justified.

Recorder John Gateshill added that the defendant had been violent in the past and he had originally thought of passing a longer sentence. Gray, of Tintern Crescent, Blackburn, had earlier admitted assault.

Ken Hind, defending, said Gray realised the sort of behaviour he was responsible for shouldn't happen. He was sorry for what happened and regretted being involved.

Since the offence, he had lost a great deal. He had lost his job due to ill health, he and his wife had separated and he had lost his home. Gray had also lost regular contact with his nine-year-old daughter to whom he was devoted.

In the run up to the offence, the defendant had also lost his parents and two months before his wife had lost her mother. The stress probably caused Gray to react in a way he wouldn't normally have done.

Mr Hind said Gray was suffering from liver and pancreas damage because of his drinking and was quite sick.

He had had two bouts in hospital and had been told if he did not stop drinking he was going to kill himself.