A WORKINGTON man who fell out with his brother screamed at him so aggressively while holding a knife that the man feared for his life, a court has heard.

Scott Hannon, 24, of Wastwater Avenue, admitted a common assault on February 2. At Carlisle Crown Court, prosecutor Katy Appleton read from the victim’s impact statement.

The case originally involved an allegation that the defendant made a threat to kill but the prosecution accepted a guilty plea on the basis Hannon made no such a threat and was holding a knife because he was using it as cutlery.

The row began because Hannon believed his brother had his girlfriend’s number on his phone, the court heard. The confrontation ended when relatives intervened.

In a statement, the brother said: “I’m scared for my life around Scott. There’s no reasoning with him. His temper can go in a second and there’s no reasoning with him... I just want him to get the help he needs.”

Recorder David Temkin QC imposed a one-year conditional discharge, and though he noted the defendant had previous offences for violence he said there had been no actual violence on this occasion. “You were abusive and you were threatening,” said the judge.