A MAN who ran amok in the street with a samurai sword in a drunken attack after a night in the pub has been jailed for a year.

Michael Kearns waved the two-foot plus blade and hit a man who had asked him to keep the noise down with the scabbard.

The 36-year-old then bashed the hilt of the sword against the front door as the victim's children slept inside, Swindon Crown Court was told.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, said two men were outside having a cigarette on Saxon Close, Cricklade, at 1am on Sunday, January 15 when Kearns and a mate passed.

The defendant appeared to be drinking from a bottle of Magners cider and was asked to keep the noise down as there were children asleep inside.

Kearns then started shouting and was held back by his pal, who managed to drag him towards a flat on Bath Road.

But he returned shortly after and shouted 'I'm going to do you tomorrow, this is my town,' and rushed towards the victim.

As he was hit on the arm with the scabbard the victim realised his attacker had a large sword in his other hand.

The two smokers quickly retreated into their flat and heard Kearns hammering on the door and rattling the letter box, remaining there for about five minutes.

Mr Meeke said that the police were called and because of the sword a firearms unit was sent to the scene.

As they were about to make a forced entry Kearns' pal emerged and told them he was asleep on the sofa and the sword was on a rack in the flat.

The three weapons were seized and pieces of metal from the largest one was found stuck in the victim's door.

Kearns, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to threatening a person with a bladed article and common assault.

Lucy Stoker, defending, said her client had an alcohol problem made worse when his father was killed outside a nightclub in Newquay April 2013.

She said things were made worse when the bouncers accused of his manslaughter were found not guilty following a trial in Cornwall.

Despite his problems, which include the break down of his relationship, she said he was still an active father to his six-year-old daughter.

She said he was 'extremely sorry' for what he had done and said he had a number of positive references including one from a councillor in Cornwall.

Jailing him Judge Robert Pawson said "On January 15 this year you were drunk.

"You have got a drink problem which it seems is bound up with the untimely, if not tragic, death of your father four years ago. Drink has been a problem for you.

"It was not the spur of the moment. You went back, you armed yourself deliberately. You were drunk, you had a friend with you who tried to pull you away."