A NEIGHBOUR dispute over noise reached a crescendo when one of the warring men went into the street armed with a machete.

Teesside Crown Court heard that both factions felt the other was at fault for the ongoing racket, but Mark Oxley “snapped” one night last summer.

His neighbour - a retired man - had his son visiting on July 24 when they heard Oxley shouting through the wall about the level of noise.

The son, who is in his mid-40s, went to speak to Oxley, but when he opened the door, the neighbour was holding the weapon.

Oxley, 48, followed the other man back to his father’s home, and “delivered a punch towards the window” when he quickly sought refuge inside.

Martin Scarborough, mitigating, said: “He was followed for a short period but then went back into his own house.

“He felt they were both making noise that was too much. Whoever was at fault, he was at fault on this night.

“He realised the error of his ways and went back into his house after he snapped, as he put it.”

The court heard that Oxley has stayed away from his home in Hill View, Greatham, Hartlepool, since he was questioned by police and given bail last August.

He has been staying with his mother, but he hopes to find somewhere else soon with the help of the local housing provider, Mr Scarborough told the court.

Oxley was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and a restraining order to keep him away from his former neighbour after he admitted charges of affray and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

Judge Tony Briggs, who also ordered 20 days of rehabilitation activity, told him: “It is important you get on with your neighbour’s wherever you live.”

He added: “I must make it plain, those who arm themselves with potentially-lethal weapons and go out and threaten violence in whatever circumstances, the custody threshold is crossed.

“These cases where people go out in a heightened state of emotion together with a weapon can frequently escalate and end in tragedy, either by way of serious injury or even death.”

Prosecutor Jonathan Walker told the court that there had been trouble between the two men for about a year before the incident.

Oxley was said to suffer from bipolar disorder, while his neighbour has his own mental health problems.