A MAN threatening to kill himself poured petrol from a window and shouted that he would torch his home - and anyone who tried to stop him, a court was told.

Burnley Crown Court heard how David Ashworth, 28, armed himself with a cigarette lighter and a tense 10 minute stand-off followed as police tried to persuade him to come out and talk to them.

Ashworth struck a police sergeant during a struggle and was eventually subdued.

When later interviewed, he said he hated all police officers.

Ashworth, of Burnley Lane, Huncoat, was given five months to show he can behave himself after a judge deferred sentence.

Judge Raymond Bennett asked for a report on Ashworth's medical treatment and told him he must keep out of trouble.

The judge told Ashworth, who had earlier admitted using threatening, insulting or abusive words or behaviour and assaulting a police officer, he could not be allowed to behave like that again.

He added: "Its up to you now.

"If you keep your side of the promise, I will keep mine."

Sentence was deferred until December 17. Roger Baldwin, prosecuting, said at about 9.30pm on December 5 police received a call from Tamsin Ashworth, who said her husband had told her he was going to kill himself.

Officers went round and when one tried to speak to Ashworth he was abusive, got in a car and drove off.

He then went to a nearby petrol station, bought some petrol, went back home and went upstairs.

Ashworth began to lean out of the window, threw fuel out and threatened to set the house and anybody who tried to stop him on fire.

The fire brigade and ambulance were called as police believed the defendant would carry out his threats.

Sara Dodd, defending, said Ashworth had gone for help and treatment.

The defendant was one of those people who, despite all the knocks he had suffered in recent years, kept picking himself up, dusting himself down and trying again.

He had recently got a job.

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