A MAN allowed his temper to get the better of him when confronted by his partner’s father over the way he was treating her, a court was told.

Michael Leslie Dougall did not take kindly to the suggestion that he should consider moving out of their home.

Durham Crown Court heard that it led to him confronting and squaring up to the older man, telling him he was, “a nobody”, and that he would easily, “crush” him.

Jane Waugh, prosecuting, said after a short scuffle the other man fell against the edge of a wall and briefly found himself unable to move his legs and arms.

Following a further brief set-to, Dougall went into his home and emerged with a 10in-long knife which he jabbed and thrust, between 15 and 20 times, at the other man, who was backing away.

Miss Waugh said Dougall’s partner tried to intervene to protect her father but suffered a hand injury from the knife in the process.

It brought an end to the attack and then Dougall drove off in a pick-up truck, returning and pulling up just short of his partner’s father.

Later the same day, Friday April 5, Dougall, who still appeared agitated, took an 18-month-old child for a ride on a quad bike round The Oval, St Helen Auckland.

Miss Waugh said the child was neither restrained or was wearing a safety helmet.

Police were called and arrested Dougall, who protested that he had been confronted by the other man.

He told police he only had the knife as he was making a sandwich with it, while he claimed that his partner had cut her hand using it earlier.

Dougall, 34, of The Oval, admitted making threats with an offensive weapon and dangerous driving.

The court heard he has 14 convictions for 28 past offences, including previous cases of public disorder and violence.

Amrit Jandoo, for Dougall, said his client accepts it was, “an unpleasant incident.”

“He’s made admissions that he was at fault and he lost control. He’s remorseful over his actions.”

Mr Jandoo said there was, “a degree of goading” at the property and other family members were aware Dougall has had issues over temper control.

“He’s had problems losing his temper and he did lose his temper, with his behaviour spilling out onto the driveway.”

Mr Jandoo said Dougall’s actions were partly explained by the large amount of alcohol he had drunk the previous night.

He added that any further period of custody could put his successful roof-cladding business in jeopardy.

Imposing an 18-month prison sentence, Recorder Joanne Kidd told Dougall he was, “clearly in a frenzy.”

“It was a serious offence, aggravated by your previous convictions for violence and public disorder.”

She also banned Dougall from driving for 21 months and put in place a five-year restraining order preventing him from contacting the current wife of his partner’s father.