Christopher Warnock, 26, of Kiln Way, Wellingborough, admitted having an offensive weapon in a public place before being sentenced at Wellingborough Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The court heard a statement read by prosecutor Karl Read-Simpson from a female friend of Warnock which said she heard banging outside her front door between 9pm and 10pm on Friday, August 15.

She then discovered him on her doorstep in Kiln Way with cuts and bruises down his back and arms

He was cradling his head saying a chemical had been sprayed in his eye, and he then collapsed.

An ambulance was called but he refused to go to hospital and was sent home.

The court was told that five minutes later he turned up at the friend's house holding a sword described as three-foot long in an Arthurian-style behind his back. He was arrested by police officers.

Baljit Garcha, representing Warnock, said his client had been drinking that evening and had decided to go for a walk to clear his head.

It was then that he was assaulted by a gang of people who sprayed a
chemical into his eyes.

Ms Garcha said Warnock had not intended to use the sword to harm his female friend but to defend himself against his attackers.

He admitted he was not thinking clearly because he was drunk.

Sentencing Warnock, chairman of the bench John Budden said: "If you had found those people who had assaulted you, and you had that sword in your hand, you would probably be in Crown Court now looking at a long custodial sentence, so be grateful for small mercies.

"We have taken into consideration your early guilty plea, otherwise you would be given a custodial sentence."

Warnock, who lives with his parents, was sentenced to 100 hours' unpaid community service and a £60 fine.

He was also ordered to attend Calm, an anger-management programme, and another programme to address his problems with alcohol.