An Isle of Wight man who threatened to kill and stab his own father in the neck with a knife has been spared jail.

Luke Connolly, of Cypress Road, Newport, appeared at the Isle of Wight Crown on Friday, August 2.

At a previous hearing, he admitted criminal damage, two counts of assault by beating, driving while disqualified, aggravated vehicle taking, perverting course of public justice and two counts of threatening a person with an offensive weapon/ bladed article.

Court heard how, on May 1, Connolly's mother reported her son had taken her car, while disqualified from driving and in an "agitated" state.

She called him and left messages, warning she would phone police.

He eventually called back saying he had been involved in an accident. His father also had 25 missed calls and Connolly accused him of being a "grass", court heard.

Later that evening, he turned up at the house with a hammer and pushed his father to the floor, Tulay Hodge, prosecuting, said.

On May 13, Connolly's mother received calls from her on, who wanted her to retract her police statement.

In another incident, on May 28, Connolly arrived at the address, shouting and wanting to fight his father.

He picked up a knife and said if his dad called the police he would stab him in the neck.

When officers arrived, Connolly came out with two metal poles, putting them down at the threat of being tasered.

He threatened to kill his father, court heard, but his dad was uninjured.

A knife was stuck in a wall and there was blood on the floor from Connolly's hand.

When interviewed, Connolly said he did not remember much as he'd had 15 cans of alcohol. 

Jim Osborne, defending, said Connolly was struggling with his mental health and his father has since agreed to let him move back in.

Speaking in court, his father said he believes being in prison for the last two months has "woken" Connolly up.

Asking for a "last chance" for his son, he said he nearly went to prison himself 30 years ago, but has changed his life around since, even visiting the Island's prisons in his role as a pastor. 

Judge William Ashworth gave Connolly a ten month suspended sentence and handed him a drug rehabilitation requirement.

He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.