THREE streets in Colne were evacuated when a ‘suicidal’ man threatened to blow up his terrace home – as he had done exactly that before.

Burnley Crown Court heard that Jack Comerford, 55, told police he was going to turn on the gas, had a knife and was going to cut his throat.

When they checked records, they found that in 1996, Comerford had blown up his home after switching on gas appliances, falling asleep, waking up and then flicking a lighter.

Comerford, said to have a long history of mental illness, was said to be so attached to his pet parrot, he was distraught at the prospect of now being locked up and parted from it.

The defendant, of Clifford Street, had admitted threatening to destroy property in a way likely to endanger life on September 27.

Sentence was adjourned for six months for Comerford to prove he would comply with mental health treatment.

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, said police went to Comerford's home after being told he was threatening to commit suicide.

An officer, talking to him through the door, was told the defendant had had a row with his brother and was going to kill himself.

After Comerford said he was going to turn on the gas and blow up his house, Clifford Street and two neighbouring streets were evacuated.

Comerford, who told officers he had taken a lot of tablets, finally agreed to give himself up after two hours and passed a hammer and two knives through the letter box to police.

The gas was cut off at about 5pm, about the same time Comerford was arrested. The prosecutor said: “I have to concede at no point did he turn on the gas supply, but he made threats.”

Comerford was taken to hospital because he had taken the overdose and when released he was arrested.

He had 28 offences on his record going back to the 1970s and after the 1996 incident he was given a suspended prison term for reckless damage.

Martin Hackett, defending, said Comerford had a long-standing problems with drugs and mental illness.