A MAN wielding a Samurai sword chased after three people as they fled from a block of flats in terror, York Crown Court heard.

Daniel John Rocks, 29, had just threatened to cut up his next-door neighbour, Victoria Holdway, and her friends, Betty Smith and Philip Scaife, "like mice".

Rocks is now serving two years in jail, and has had to cancel his wedding plans for later this year.

The case prompted York MP Hugh Bayley to renew his calls for tighter controls on samurai swords, and the trial judge to warn about the escalation in sword violence.

Rocks, of Burdyke Avenue, Clifton, York, denied charges of affray and carrying an offensive weapon, but was convicted after a one-day trial.

Mr Bayley, who last year urged Home Secretary Charles Clarke to tighten laws on owning swords, said: "These swords are not ornaments, they are dangerous weapons and I would like to see controls on them in the same way as guns.

"It is because these swords are misused that it is a serious problem for the public. That is why the law needs to be changed. Sadly people misuse them and the public need more protection."

The Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, told Rocks: "There are far too many cases these days coming before the courts of people using these swords which they have bought for ornamental purposes. One of the complainants said you made her life hell as a result of this".

Home Office Minister Hazel Blears has said recently that the Government is looking seriously at banning samurai swords.

Both Rocks and his fiance, Caroline Moynihan, had claimed he merely knocked on Miss Holdway's door in Priory Street on the evening of August 4 and asked her politely to turn down her music.

But Rupert Doswell, prosecuting, said Rocks was angry, sweating and had bulging eyes. Miss Holdway told the jury she and her friends were preparing to go out when he threatened her and pulled the sword from his tracksuit bottoms.

"I was absolutely petrified," she said.

"I was so scared. He was waving the weapon around and shouting. He said he was going to cut us up like little mice.

"I felt really scared and I did not know what was going to happen so I shut my door and locked it. It sounded like he was marching up and down the corridor and growling and swearing to himself."

When the trio made a run for it to The Priory pub, in Micklegate, Rocks chased after them shouting and swearing.

Updated: 10:32 Wednesday, January 18, 2006