A KNIFEMAN from Malmesbury threatened a neighbour with a carving knife because he thought she had branded him a paedophile on Facebook, Swindon Magistrates Court heard yesterday.

Noel Clifford armed himself with the one foot long blade when he and his mum went to confront the woman about the online comments.

But as the doorstep slanging match escalated the 26-year-old pulled the carving knife from under his top and waved it about.

Then after throwing the weapon into a flower bed he pushed his victim, causing her to fall backwards in her hallway.

Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, told magistrates in Swindon how the incidence took place on Parklands in Malmesbury on the morning of Friday, September 1.

He said the victim had been concerned about Clifford's behaviour online, believing he had been contacting underage girls.

"She says it is her belief he has been having contact with young children, young girls, on Facebook and it may be inappropriate," he said.

"She said on the day before her friend had shared a post on Facebook which she had then made comment on as an inappropriate message."

Mr Ballinger said the victim woke first thing in the morning to a banging on the door and when she answered it she was confronted with the defendant's mum, with him behind.

"She was telling her she should not post messages about her son and he isn't a pervert," he said.

As the women argued, Clifford also started to shout abuse and then pulled up his top and produced the carving knife.

Mr Ballinger continued: "He started waving it at her, trying to intimidate her. She told him to leave, he told her he was going to stab her. She says he lunged at her."

He said the defendant then threw the knife into a flower bed before lunging against and pushing over the woman in front of her six and nine-year-old children.

When he was questioned he said the victim had called him a paedophile when his mum was arguing with her and he only meant to frighten her.

Clifford, of Parklands, admitted common assault and possessing a bladed article.

Tony Nowogrodzki, defending, said his client had mental health problems and learning difficulties and was home educated after being bullied.

He said he spends a lot of time on his PlayStation and was upset after she posted something online saying he had been inappropriately following 10-year-old girls.

"He should have just blocked the person and not got in a monologue with what can only be described as a bunch of oafs," he said.

Clifford, who the court was told is on benefits, was put on a two year community order with 30 day rehabilitation activity requirement, £100 fine and £170 in costs and surcharge.