A man has narrowly avoided prison after chasing after a man with a machete claiming that he was trying to protect two women.
Michael Hodgkins, 29, appeared in court on May 24 after pleading guilty to making threats to kill.
The incident took place on August 1, 2021, at Hodgkins', of Redcar, partner's home, Teesside Live reports.
Prosecutor, Jenny Haigh, said that at time of the incident his partner's friend was staying with them after falling out with her boyfriend.
Ms Haigh told Teesside Crown Court that the defendant was aware of the issues between the pair.
She said on the day of the incident the boyfriend turned up at the property with his father and was trying to speak to his girlfriend.
Footage played in court captured by a ring doorbell showed a confrontation between the complainant and the defendant before he grabbed a knife and chased the man with it.
The defendant was arrested shortly after and told police "he showed up at the home address, I ran out with a knife I just saw red". He also told police the accused had allegedly attacked the woman who was staying with them.
The court heard that his intention was to protect the women in the house and it was heard the complainant was arrested for the incident involving his girlfriend.
However, a victim impact statement by the man read: "The incident has left me scared. I feel unsafe it has had an affect on my mental health and plays on my mind. I heard he wanted to slash my back and that scares me.
"I just want to get on with my life. I'm looking at moving out of Middlesbrough."
In mitigation, Nigel Soppitt told the court Hodgkins pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and showed genuine remorse.
He said: "In understanding why he did it, he knows the injured party is very capable of violence. It's the defence's position that the man was aggressive and demanding and wanted to see his partner. The complainant wanted a confrontation.
"He picked up a knife to frighten this man and his father off."
When passing sentence, the Judge said: "You have very considerable mitigation. Firstly the background that the complainant came in an aggressive frame of mind to the home where his girlfriend had taken shelter from his violent behaviour - he was not prepared to leave.
"You knew about the violence the girlfriend described and you knew he was someone who had a history of behaving violently.
"This was not something planned you reacted in a situation where you thought his girlfriend needed protecting and have no relevant convictions.
"However, a prison sentence must be passed in my judgement but I am persuaded in the circumstances that judgement would be served by suspending imprisonment."
Hodgkins, 29, has seven unrelated convictions and was given an eight-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months.
He must also complete 300 hours of unpaid work and was also handed a two-month curfew.
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