A PLAY fight between two brothers involving a hot water bottle and a tea towel spiralled into a violent row in which one of them armed himself with a meat cleaver, a court heard.

Peter James Mitchell then chased his brother upstairs brandishing the cleaver before kicking down his locked bedroom door.

Yesterday (Monday, March 30) Newcastle Crown Court heard the 23-year-old, of Princes Street, Bishop Auckland, later falsely imprisoned his girlfriend in her home while on bail for the offence.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said the brothers had been playfully hitting one another with a hot water bottle and a tea towel in the kitchen when things turned sour on Sunday, September 14.

He said the argument broke out after Peter Mitchell’s brother hit him in the face with the hot water bottle.

“Peter Mitchell lost his temper, reached into the kitchen drawer and picked up a meat cleaver,” said Mr Dryden.

“[Mitchell’s brother] ran to his bedroom and locked the door but Peter Mitchell came after him and kicked the door open.”

Peter Mitchell then dropped the cleaver and the pair began scuffling until their mother pulled them apart, with Peter Mitchell then trying to head-butt his brother.

Mr Dryden went on to describe an incident on Saturday, October 4, which saw Mitchell lock his girlfriend in her Bishop Auckland home while he went to the police station as part of his bail conditions.

The court heard the pair had been arguing and Mitchell feared she would lock him out of the house or throw his belongings into the street.

Mitchell, who had been in custody since October, pleaded guilty to affray and false imprisonment at a previous hearing.

His solicitor, Tom Mitchell, said his client had been struggling to cope following the death of his father and his grief meant he was easily wound up.

He added that the cleaver was not used as a weapon and added his client only locked his partner up for 15 minutes and she had access to a telephone throughout.

“He is grateful for the six months in custody as it allowed him to sort himself out,” he added. “He is contact with all the people involved and they are looking forward to seeing him.”

Mitchell was sentenced to a total of nine months in prison but was due to be released immediately owing to time spent on remand.