A PEWSEY man who was questioned by police in relation to a paedophile inquiry was arrested after he attempted to confront the people he believed had contacted the police.

Kennet magistrates were told on Monday that Ian Mowbray-Smith, 51, of Nether Leaze, armed himself with a four foot long piece of wood and went to the house of the woman he believed had reported him.

When he was told by a girl she was not at home, he went to a neighbour's house still carrying the piece of wood.

Nick Dunne, prosecuting, said: "He was seen outside the house walking towards the next door neighbour with a piece of wood which looked like a banister rail.

"He was then seen swinging the wood towards the man's head. The man had to jump back."

Later the same day he went to the home of a relative of the woman armed with two knives, an eight inch Bowie knife and an eight inch dagger.

He pulled out the knives from the back of his trousers but threw them on to the ground when challenged by a member of the public.

The police were called and he was arrested. He told them he called at the two houses to find out why the police had originally been to his home.

His behaviour was aggravated, he said, because he had drunk half a bottle of vodka after a two and a half year period of being teetotal.

Richard Williams, defending, said a local police officer had called on Mowbray-Smith during inquiries about alleged complaints of a paedophilic nature and a missing girl.

Mr Williams said: "These allegations had been instigated by some local residents."

He said the two knives were ornamental and not sharpened, and formed part of a collection at his client's home. He said the knives were worth several hundred pounds.

The case against Mowbray-Smith, who pleaded guilty to a charge of using threatening words or behaviour on July 11 and having two knives in a public place, was adjourned for the probation service to draw up social reports.

Magistrates said they have not ruled out sending him to prison.

Mowbray-Smith will appear at Andover Magistrates Court on August 15.