A WOMAN called police when her husband returned home drunk in the early hours of the morning.

Blackburn magistrates heard Asad Shah responded by arming himself with a knife and said he would stab the police when they arrived.

Shah,37, of Willow Drive, Nelson, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour. The case was adjourned for the preparation of a pre-sentence report after Deputy District Judge Phil Barnes said he needed more information.

"He clearly has drink problems and his family are afraid to the extent they have locks on the bedroom doors for when he comes home drunk," said Deputy District Judge Barnes.

"I am reluctant to impose any sentence that allows him to go back to the family home without knowing what they think."

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said Shah returned home at 2.47 am, drunk and causing problems. His wife asked the defendant's father what she should do and he told her to call the police.

"She said it was the worst behaviour she had seen from him in 18 years of marriage," said Mrs Yates. "He became angry and left the house with a kitchen knife saying he was going to stab the police when they arrived."

Mrs Yates said when the officers arrived he put the knife under a car on the driveway and it was recovered from there.

Mark Williams, defending, said there hadn't been any significant incident when his client returned home drunk.

"He didn't threaten the family but his father told the wife to call the police because they just wanted him away from the property," said Mr Williams.

"When he left with the knife they feared what he may do."