A KNIFEMAN who threatened to cut off a police officer's head and caused streets to be closed off, has kept his freedom.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Jason Longson, 31, had originally been placed on two years probation for the offences in 1999, but had had a clash of personalities with his officer and later became "wanted" by the service.

He handed himself in in February and a judge said because the probation service had made little or no efforts to track him down since July 1999, he had tried to put his life together, got medical help and kept out of trouble, she could take an exceptional course.

Recorder Beverley Lunt revoked the probation order, gave Longson a six month prison sentence, suspended for a year, but went on: "Nobody can, or must or should draw knives at the police.

"The police have a right to be protected."

The defendant, of Cartmel Avenue, Ferngore, Accrington, had earlier been convicted of affray and two counts of having an offensive weapon.

Sharon Watson, prosecuting for the probation service, said police had been called to Downham Drive, Accrington, where Longson walked towards an officer and threatened to kill him.

He had a large kitchen knife in each hand and jabbed them in the air as he did so..

The defendant continued to be abusive and shouted he would cut the officer's head off as the policeman called for back-up.

Miss Watson said the officer retreated and waited for help to arrive.

Pedestrians were walking past, two elderly people were forced to cross the road to get out of the way and Longson ran into the middle of the road still threatening the officer.

Roger Baldwin, defending, said Longson had been under a lot of pressure at the time.

His mother had been very ill, has father had been diagnosed as having cancer and his girlfriend had lost a child.

He was trying to alleviate the stress by drinking to excess and taking sleeping tablets.