A young father who pulled a knife on his partner after a ‘tug-of-war’ over a duvet.

Sam Hunneybell pointed a large kitchen knife at the victim, saying: ‘I’m not joking around anymore’ following an argument.

Hunneybell, 21, pleaded guilty to affray and was given a two-year community order with supervision, a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement, ordered to pay £250 costs and given a five-year restraining order.

Cecilia Pritchard, prosecuting, told the court how the couple, who have now separated, had been in a ‘difficult’ relationship for some time.

The court heard how the couple had broken up two weeks before the incident in October 2014, but she had allowed him to stay in the house, in Church.

Miss Pritchard said on the night of the incident the couple had been sharing a bed when Hunneybell started to argue with the victim and ‘dragged her down the bed’ before ‘slapping her in the face’.

She then punched him in the arm to get him off her and said she was going to call the police.

Miss Pritchard said he then took the phone from her and threw it against the wall before the victim ran into her son’s bedroom and sat behind the door ‘because she was terrified’.

The court heard how Hunneybell started kicking the door and managed to force his way in.

When he later returned, the victim saw him holding a knife.

Miss Pritchard said Hunneybell pointed the knife towards her and the tip of the blade was ‘about a foot away from her throat’, the court heard.

Hunneybell later went outside into the back yard before eventually calming down and crying, saying ‘I don’t know why I do this, I’m really sorry’.

A victim impact statement told how the victim is now ‘terrified’ of Hunneybell.

Hunneybell, formerly of Back Stanley Street, Accrington, and now of Halifax Road in Brierfield, represented himself at court.

He said: “I’m a quiet lad. I keep myself to myself and stay in playing on the computer all day.”

Sentencing, Recorder Sara Dodd said: “You’re immature in many ways and need to find strategies for dealing with problems than resorting to cannabis or violence.”