A "dangerous" and drunken knifeman who turned up after police were called to trouble at a Haslingden pub has kept his freedom -- but only just.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Stephen McClorey, 41, only agreed to get help for his drink problem when a judge told him he was looking at jail.

The defendant, of Grane Road, Haslingden, was given a 12 month community rehab-ilitation after admitting affray.

David Pickup, prosecuting, told the court police went to an incident at the Roebuck in March and found a man lying on the ground outside. A woman was hysterical and saying a doorman had kicked him in the head.

McClorey approached, clearly drunk, wanting to know where the "Scouse bouncer" alleged to have attacked the man, was.

When a man identified himself as the doorman, the defendant produced a large machete-type knife.

McClorey went towards the bouncer with the weapon above his head and had to be CS gassed twice. He dropped to his knees, dropped the knife on the ground and was handcuffed and put in a police van.

Mark Smith, defending, said the defendant regularly visited pubs in Rossendale and the staff and management of two spoke in very high terms of him.