A DROITWICH man threatened a neighbour with a Samurai sword after becoming incensed by the noise coming from a St Valentine's party she was hosting.

Nicholas Merry - who had been given advance warning about the event - threatened to smash up the stereo, after months of loud noise had soured the relationship with neighbour Karen Jury, Worcester Magistrates Court heard

Mark Soper, prosecuting said the 35-year-old defendant took a two-foot long samurai sword around to the house of Karen Jury on Friday, February 14, about an hour after the party for teenagers had started.

Mr Soper said that at first, the neighbour did not realise Merry had a sword.

He added: "He said: 'If I have any more trouble I will break the door down, no matter who gets in the way and break the stereo'. He went home while she rang the police.

"When the police attended they recovered three Samurai swords from the premises."

Susie Duncan, defending, said her client said there were ongoing problems because of loud noise.

"He's put up with that for seven months. Sometimes the music has been on till 2am or 3am, " said Miss Duncan.

She said the neighbour had contacted the housing authority for permission to hold the St Valentine's party, which had been granted.

She added that on the day in question, Merry had a bad day at work, and described the music like "sitting in Tramps nightclub".

"I'm told she (the neighbour) was abusive towards him and said '**** off' and 'If you don't like it you can move," Miss Duncan told the court.

She said Merry's partner was also told to go away by the neighbour, so Merry returned with a sword.

Miss Duncan said Merry was holding the sword downwards outside the house, but did not attempt to enter the property.

She said Merry, of Woodmans Green, Droitwich, had difficulty with anger management after suffering a brain haemorrhage in 1996, which left him in a coma for three months.

Merry, who admitted affray at an earlier hearing, was ordered to pay £25 compensation and £118 towards prosecution costs.

Magistrates placed him on a community rehabilitation order for two years and ordered the destruction of his three swords.