A WOMAN armed herself with a baseball bat during a neighbour dispute over loud music.

Blackburn magistrates heard Marie Ann Coats was already subject to a suspended prison sentence for possessing an offensive weapon.

Coats, 40, of Cumberland Avenue, Burnley, pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in public and using threatening behaviour. She was committed in custody to Burnley Crown Court to be sentenced for all matters on February 18.

Scott Parker, prosecuting, said the neighbour had shouted for the music to be turned down after she went to bed at 1am. Coats responded by shouting abuse and banging on the party wall.

“She then heard noise from outside and saw the defendant armed with a baseball bat,” said Mr Parker. “She shouted that the victim knew what she was capable of and threatened to kill her. The victim was terrified.”

Waseem Chowdhary, defending, said his client had been at home when, all of a sudden, there had been a noise which she described as being “like an earthquake.”

“She heard screaming and shouting from next-door and went outside to investigate, picking up the baseball bat on the way,” said Mr Chowdhary.