A MUM was chased out of the house by her knife-wielding husband as their three children looked on, a court was told.

Magistrates heard that the children had earlier pleaded with their father to stop as he held their mother in a headlock.

And the court was told that Marcus Baker felt "deep shame" over his behaviour, which had been fuelled by drink.

Baker, 36, of Newton Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to assaulting Jacqueline Baker and resisting a police officer. He was made subject to community supervision for two years and ordered to pay £150 compensation to his wife and £60 costs.

Charlotte Crane, prosecuting, said the couple and their children had been to a party and left together. She returned home with the children but Baker went back to collect something.

"When he got home she could tell he was extremely drunk and became abusive to her," said Miss Crane. "He got her in a headlock and tried to forcibly remove her from the house and this was witnessed by their children."

Miss Crane told Hyndburn magistrates that after Baker got the knife from the kitchen Mrs Baker fled from the house and called the police. He initially refused to come downstairs but was eventually spoken to in the living room.

"When the officers went to arrest him he struggled violently and they eventually had to use Home Office approved techniques to subdue him," said Miss Crane.

Gareth Price, defending, said his client's recollection of the events was limited because of the amount of alcohol he had drunk.

"He accepts what his wife and children say happened and is full of shame," said Mr Price. "He accepts the relationship is now over."