AN animal lover threatened to cut off people’s arms and legs with a machete because he suspected them of setting their dog on to his cat, York Crown Court heard.

Peter Anthony Egan also waved an air pistol from the window of the flat where he cares for his terminally-ill partner.

Stephanie Hancock, prosecuting, said a woman and four men moved out of sight of his window when they saw the air pistol, but he pursued them, pulled out the machete and asked: “Don’t you know who I am? I’ve been in prison.”

“He threatened to cut off their arms and legs if they came round to where he lived,” said Miss Hancock.

Defence barrister Andrew Semple said Egan’s partner Angela, who has major lung problems, had to cope without him for 122 days following the incident because Egan was remanded in custody awaiting sentence. Recorder Alistair MacDonald QC told Egan: “You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Instead of being in a position to help her out and do all the things I am sure she needs, you are going around waving weapons and machetes. Go and look after your partner.”

He gave Egan a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years on condition he is supervised by probation officers for two years and goes on a rehabilitation course. Egan, of Sirocco Court, off Huntington Road, York, pleaded guilty to affray and possessing an imitation firearm.

Miss Hancock said Dean Stock, Wendy Reece and three others were working on motorbikes in Sirocco Court at 10pm on August 3.

One of the group had a dog which ran after Egan’s cat.

Almost immediately after it returned, Egan appeared in his window and accused them of deliberately setting the dog on to his cat. Then he produced the unloaded pistol.

Mr Semple said Egan and his partner had retired to bed early on August 3, tired out after her children had spent the day with them.

They were woken by what they considered to be “loud behaviour” outside and he had reacted impulsively and out of character.