A Swindon man who brandished a two-foot long Samurai sword in a Merseyside public house has been placed on probation for two years.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Paul Bailey lost his temper with his girlfriend and 'flipped'. After being disarmed he left the Punch Bowl in Hoylake, Wirral, went round to her house nearby and kicked in the front door, before leaving with his bag.

Since the offences in September last year, Bailey has returned to Swindon where he has been working as a taxi driver, and has resolved to put the relationship and this incident behind him, his barrister said.

Bailey, 32, of Gantlett Dene, Covingham, who pleaded guilty to affray and burglary, was also ordered to pay £250 costs.

Not guilty verdicts were recorded on charges of possessing an offensive weapon and making a threat to kill 23-year-old Nicola Lucas, which he denied.

Judge Mark Brown, said: "It must have been a frightening experience for any innocent bystander in that public house to be suddenly confronted by you armed with a sword and acting in a very intimidating fashion.

"It is clear you were disarmed very quickly and in the event nobody was physically injured.

"The burglary was something of a technical burglary and it is accepted that the amount of damage done was relatively minor.

"Nonetheless, these are serious offences, but in the circumstances I am able to draw back from a custodial sentence."

Judge Brown said that a condition of the probation order would be that Bailey attends an anger management programme.

Miss Deborah Gould, prosecuting, said that Miss Lucas met Bailey in May last year and a relationship developed.

It was not a happy relationship and there were a number of incidents.

They separated and got back together and on September 17 they went out for a drink with her father to the Punch Bowl, she said.

Initially his mood was good but then he began to change. He became abusive towards her and then told her they were going. She refused to leave and he grabbed hold of her.

He ordered her out of the pub, but was warned by another man to leave her alone.

An argument started and Bailey left the bar.

He walked towards the toilet area and then came back with the two-foot long sword, with its handle broken off, waving it around shouting "I'm going to ... kill you."

Bailey was disarmed and others got involved to eject him.

He then went around to Miss Lucas' house and kicked the door a couple of times, walked in, grabbed hold of his bag and walked out.

Dr Donal McGuire, defending, handed up testimonials from charities, including the Roy Castle Foundation, for whom Bailey had done work for which he has a reputation.

"Despite the demands of his two jobs he is clearly willing to help others and give of his time for worthy causes," he said.

"The sword offence was 'rather bizarre', and he wants to put this regrettable incident and relationship behind him.

"The relationship caused him to act completely out of character. A friend advised him he was making a mistake having a relationship with her but he was extremely fond of her," said Dr McGuire.