A MAN brandishing two metal bars told his cousin he would smash his head in, a court heard.

Shaun Ashley Green turned up uninvited at Daniel Green's home in Orton Road.

Prosecutor Carl Gaffney told magistrates the 36-year-old, of Cumwhinton Gardens, Carlisle, attended the property at 11am, on November 25 last year, when Mr Green was there with his partner and two small children.

"With two different implements he makes a number of threats, in essence, calling Mr Green out," he said.

The defendant was swearing and threatening Mr Green saying, "I'm going to smash your head in."

Mr Gaffney said Green put the weapons - a large silver, metal bar and a smaller metal bar - through the letter box and waved them around.

Green was due to go on trial at the magistrates' court in Carlisle yesterday but changed his plea to guilty as it was due to take place.

He admitted possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and using threatening and abusive behaviour.

No one was injured as a result of the incident and no damage was caused.

But Mr Gaffney said it did have an impact on those in the house. "Someone knocking on your door and threatening you and sticking two metal poles through your letter box would have caused some distress," he said.

Referring to Green's criminal record of 19 convictions and 58 offences, Mr Gaffney described him as a "prolific offender", despite his last conviction - perverting the course of justice - being more than six years ago and a tide of positive behaviour since then.

No restraining order was made as Mr Green and his partner have since moved to the Blackpool area - not as a result of the incident but because Mr Green secured work there. Mr Gaffney said Mr Green did not fear the defendant.

Defence lawyer Josh Bowker asked magistrates for an adjournment in order for a pre-sentence reported to be prepared. He said the defendant was under to psychologists and requested their input be provided to the probation service.

Magistrates reluctantly agreed and the case was adjourned.

Green will be sentenced at the magistrates court in Carlisle on March 12. He was granted conditional bail, which states he must not contact the victims.