A DRUNKEN knifeman who stabbed at police officers called to his blood-splattered home by his distraught mother, has been jailed for 12 months.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Phillip Satterthwaite, 35, threatened to cut up officers who found a pool of blood at his front door -- but could remember nothing about it.

His mother, hospital worker Betty Cook sobbed as she told a judge he bottled up his feelings, put up a wall to people and would stay in his bedroom playing computer games. She went on: "I have never seen him like that before. He was totally out of control."

Sentencing Satterthwaite, said to have had 12 to 15 pints of beer beforehand, Judge Raymond Bennett said he had behaved like a lunatic and it was a good job the officers were using shields. Satterthwaite, of Amersham Grove, Burnley, earlier admitted affray. Rebecca Lloyd-Smith, prosecuting, said police called to the house saw a lot of blood on the walls and carpet.

Satterthwaite was at the top of the stairs, leaning out of a partition, with blood coming from cuts to his hand and holding a long serrated edged knife.

Officers tried to persuade him to put the weapon down but he said he would shoot or stab the polic. He threatened to kill an officer who arrived with colleagues with protective equipment. Satterthwaite lunged towards the officer, who lost his balance and fell down the stairs.

Miss Lloyd-Smith said the defendant continued to make stabbing motions but was eventually forced to the floor by police. He was extremely violent, put the knife to his throat and threatened to kill himself.

Paul Hague, defending, said no explanation was found in either the pre-sentence, or psychiatric reports as to why the offence happened. He had been hard working, lived a quiet life and his behaviour was wholly out of character. Drink had played a part. Satterthwaite had been working 12 hour-shifts and at the weekend would go out and drink.

He had one girlfriend and she finished with him and started living with the landlord of the public house where he had been drinking. On the night of the offence, Satterthwaite spoke to her and cut his hand putting it through a window in the pub.