A LOUT who threatened to chop his mother up with a meat cleaver has dodged prison - for the time being.

Connor Stephens has been given six months by a judge to sort out his life or he could still face a spell behind bars.

Stephens, 21, was said or have "behaved like a child in a massive temper tantrum" when he could not get what he wanted.

Teesside Crown Court heard details of the bizarre behaviour at the family home in Colburn, North Yorkshire, last June.

Stephens smashed his mobile phone in a rage after speaking to his girlfriend, then demanded his mother buy him a new one.

He was told he was old enough to look after himself, but was then given £15 for cigarettes after pestering his fed-up mum.

Prosecutor Paul Newcombe said the woman said she wanted the change, but was told by her son: "You won't be getting it."

Stephens stormed from the house, smashed a plant pot, went back inside and repeated his demands for a new phone.

He smashed the oven door, before lashing out at his mother who was holding her three-year-old son, who was hit in the face.

Mr Newcombe said Stephens "continued making childish demands" and switched off the electricity when his mother tried to use the landline to call the police, saying: "Get me the phone, and I'll stop."

As she finally got through to the emergency services, her son left the house with the meat cleaver, yelling: "Get off the phone otherwise I'll chop you up and slit your throat."

Stephens also stole her purse before police arrived, and apologised after he was arrested.

The judge, Recorder Ben Nolan, QC, deferred the case until February with the challenges of keeping out of trouble, leading a settled life and finding a job.

Mr Recorder Nolan told him: "It's up to you. If you get into any further scrapes in the next six months, you'll be going to prison for this."

Simon Perkins, defending, said Stephens, whose address on the court system is in Newcastle, was one step away from being qualified to work in the construction industry.

Since the incident more than a year ago, he has lived in bail hostels on Tyneside and in Scunthorpe, but told the court he can go to stay with grandparents in Howden-le-Wear.

Stephens's mother said in a statement that she was "scared, nervous and very upset" during the drama.

Stephens admitted charges of criminal damage, theft, common assault and affray.

He told police he could not remember some of the incident because he suffered black-outs, but Mr Newcombe said: "The cause of these seems to be a mystery to and to the officers."