A MAN went to his girlfriend's home in the early hours of the morning brandishing a Samurai sword and claiming he was "crazy."

Blackburn magistrates heard that earlier in the evening a "death" tarot card was pushed through Jacqueline Brindle's letterbox.

The court was told that Alan Craig Whittle denied any involvement with the tarot card but accepted he had gone to the house later on, although he could not remember because he had been drinking cider and whisky.

Whittle, aged 31, formerly of Fowler Height Close, Blackburn, but now living at his mother's home in Marlborough Street, Chorley, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour towards Jacqueline Brindle and possession of an offensive weapon. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and fined £100 with £55 costs.

Claire Fanning, prosecuting, said Whittle and Miss Brindle had been in a relationship for about 18 months and on the day of the incident there had been a falling out.

She was at her home, also in Fowler Height Close, with her daughter, who was seven months pregnant, and her boyfriend. All three suspected that Whittle was responsible for the tarot card.

Whittle had called at the house and asked Miss Brindle if she wanted to go to his home to watch television but she declined. At 1.15am he returned, rattling the sword against her front door and shouting: "I'm crazy. I want to get arrested. I've got a sword."

Miss Brindle could see the blade banging against the window and her daughter's boyfriend was trying to calm him down. "There was clearly concern that he would get into the house and they were all frightened what would happen".