A JEALOUS farmer held an ornamental sword to his partner's head after she confessed to an affair with one of his workers, a court was told.

Drunken father-of-three Stuart Johnstone, 38, demanded to know what had gone on and threw her out of their farm, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Johnstone, who was given a community sentence, is now reconciled with his partner of 11 years.

But he was warned by a judge that if anything like it happened again, another court would not be so generous and he could end up behind bars for years.

Johnstone, of Skipton Old Road, Colne, admitted making a threat to kill.

He was given a 12-month community order with supervision, and ordered to pay £400 costs.

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, told the court the defendant had been to Australia for a couple of months.

When he returned, the victim told him she had had an affair with an employee of his, the court heard.

Last December 29, Johnstone went out and got very drunk and returned home at about 7am the following morning.

Miss Statham said he was consumed with jealousy and demanded to know what had gone on.

The court heard Johnstone slapped his wife, who was in bed, around the face, got the sword and held it to her temple.

He prodded her body and at the duvet cover as she tried to hide.

Johnstone then stabbed the sword through the bedding and told the victim: "Go on, get the kids and go."

The prosecutor said the victim alerted police and Johnstone was found hiding in a hayloft in a barn. He was CS gassed and confessed when questioned.

The court was told the defendant was full of remorse for what happened and the victim had retracted her police statement.