A MAN who confronted his neighbour and threatened to chop off his head with a machete has been sent to prison for 16 months.

A jury at Worcester Crown Court found Christopher Cole, of Harold Evers Way, Kidderminster, guilty of affray and of possessing a bladed article in a public place.

The 43-year-old, who denied the offences during a three-day trial, was said to have 11 previous convictions for 21 offences, including six for violence.

Judge Toby Hooper QC rejected a plea by defence counsel Sophie Lomas for a pre-sentence report.

He said that Cole, said to be suffering from epilepsy and seizures, had been involved with the probation service before and there was enough background information.

The court heard that Cole and Polish neighbour Remi Blazewski lived in a block of flats in Harold Evers Way, off Radford Avenue.

Mr Blazewski had complained on several occasions about the noise from Cole's flat above him.

On Tuesday, March 20 last year, he heard Cole complaining in the nearby Nisa store that he was having trouble with his Polish neighbour.

Mr Blazewski asked Cole if he was talking about him. Cole replied: "Yes, I know where you are. I'll see you soon."

When he returned to his flat, he exchanged words with Cole, who reached under his coat for the machete.

He told Mr Blazewski he was going to chop his head off.

Two drivers delivering furniture intervened so Mr Blazewski took a picture of Cole and the machete, which he emailed to the police.

Cole told the jury that Mr Blazewski had been knocking on his door to complain about the noise from arguments he was having with his girlfriend.

He alleged that Mr Blazewski had become aggressive when they met in the shop.

Cole said he intended to take the machete, an ornamental sword left by a previous tenant, to a neighbour's in case Mr Blazewski got his hands on it.

But as he left the flat with it under his coat, Mr Blazewski came running towards him and he put his arms up. He said he backed away and denied swinging the machete.

Judge Hooper, who imposed consecutive eight-month sentences for the two offences, ordered the machete to be confiscated.