WHILE police were talking to a man about criminal damage to his property they saw a neighbour emerge from his property carrying a machete.

Blackburn magistrates heard both men confronted each other with William Fraser Dobbie raising the weapon and shouting: "Come on then."

Dobbie, 33, of Venice Avenue, Burnley, pleaded guilty to threatening Ashley Pennington with a machete, criminal damage to a car belonging to him and obstructing a police officer.

He was committed on bail to Burnley Crown Court to be sentenced with a condition of bail that he does not enter Burnley.

Peter Bardsley, prosecuting, said police had attended on Venice Avenue after Mr Pennington complained of damage being caused to his car.

They were taking a statement from him when Dobbie came out and the two men were shouting at each other before Dobbie produced the machete.

"The officers intervened, a tasar was drawn and Dobbie ordered to drop the weapon," said Mr Bardsley.

David Lawson, defending, said his client's mother lived on Venice Avenue.

"There had been a dispute with the Pennington family involving one of them being reported to police over a stolen car.

"While he was at the property a member of the other family approached and he was fearful what might happen," said Mr Lawson.

"He says it was a knife not a machete and he went to the gate to prevent the other man coming in. He knows he should have stayed in the house and called the police."