A man threatened his neighbours with an axe and threw it through their living room window.
The couple had only been living next to James Fitzpatrick for a matter of weeks when he began "ranting and raving".
A Liverpool Crown Court heard the couple, who the ECHO has chosen not to name, had made a comment about the way the 51-year-old looks after his dog, prompting him to first kick their front door before going back the next day with an axe.
Recorder Paul Reid, QC, explained the neighbours had been living in the Walton home for only around four weeks when Fitzpatrick committed the offences on September 21 and 22 last year.
The judge said: "During that brief period of time there was an exchange over the way you were looking after your dog. You took umbrage about that."
Recorder Reid noted that on both dates Fitzpatrick had been drinking.
On the first occasion the dad went to his neighbours house at around 3am and was "banging on the door, threatening them" while being "abusive" and "causing some damage to the door".
The judge noted the damage caused by Fitzpatrick kicking the door was "relatively minor" with the neighbours claiming £100 in compensation.
Recorder Reid said: "They reported the matter to police but police didn't come and speak to you until the following day when things escalated to quite a different level."
The judge explained that Fitzpatrick again went to his neighbours' home the following day "but this time you equipped yourself with an axe".
Fitzpatrick had then threatened to "put the windows through" and "cause damage to the door" while "urging them to come outside".
Recorder Reid said: "You were then breaking the windows with the axe."
Fitzpatrick finally threw the axe through the window and into the couple's living room.
Police were then called to the property and Fitzpatrick was arrested and interviewed where he was "heavily intoxicated".
Recorder Reid said: "You didn't recall some of the details of what happened - you acknowledge to the police, and after in your pre-sentence report, this must have been an utterly terrifying experience to the people in that house.
"It is bad enough to have the door damaged, with you ranting and raving, to go back a second day around with a weapon, using it to put the windows through and throwing it into the front room must have been, as I say, an utterly terrifying experience."
Recorder Reid said the victims were "obviously very apprehensive about you returning to living next door".
Michael Bagley, defending, asked the judge to consider character references in which people "speak highly" of Fitzpatrick.
Mr Bagley urged the judge to suspend any custodial sentence.
Andrew Judge, prosecuting, explained Fitzpatrick admitted common assault, two counts of criminal damage and possession of a bladed weapon.
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The court heard Fitzpatrick, of Rumney Place, Kirkdale, has previous convictions, but that it had been a "long time" since he was last before a court.
Recorder Reid said justice would be "best served by you having a community sentence hanging over you".
Fitzpatrick was handed a 12 month sentence suspended for 18 months.
He must compete 40 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements and 120 hours of unpaid work.
The judge also imposed an indefinite restraining order preventing Fitzpatrick from contacting the victims and he must pay £600 in compensation.
