A TEENAGER who threatened to ‘slice’ two enforcement officers with a machete is starting a custodial sentence.

At a hearing in Preston, the crown court was told how on September 10, two enforcement officers from the magistrates court had attended an address in Anyon Street, Darwen, with the intention of arresting a man for TV licence offences.

However, when the officers approached the property, the defendant, Curtis Southworth, answered the door and became aggressive towards them.

Prosecuting, David Traynor explained that Southworth, 18, told the officers that the man in question did not live at the address and had never lived there.

Mr Traynor said: “The defendant then reached behind the door and produced a machete.

“He came out of the property and onto the path and began waving the weapon around in his hand.

“Mr Southworth then advanced towards one of the officers shouting ‘if you don’t leave this area now I will slice you up.”

The court heard how both officers had felt Southworth’s actions were disproportionate to the reasons they were there and had been scared and frightened by his advances.

Mr Traynor added: “Both officers retreated to their van before calling the police, who attended and arrested Mr Southworth, and confiscated the machete, which was longer than a 30cm ruler.”

In mitigation, defence barrister Richard English said his client accepted he was entirely in the wrong and offered no excuse as to why he behaved the way he did.

Mr English said: “He wants to apologise to the two officers.

“He lost control of himself and that is not how he usually is.

“He has no-one to blame but himself and accepts full responsibility.

“I would ask that with any sentence passed he is offered support and guidance and some form of rehabilitation.”

Sentencing Southworth for affray, Judge Andrew Woolman referred to a pre sentence report from the probation officer, who reiterated Mr English’s point about support and guidance for the defendant.

Judge Woolman said: “Despite your guilty plea, I have come to the conclusion that threats of assaults on public officers can’t be tolerated.”

Southworth, of Anyon Street, Darwen, was sentenced to eight months in custody to be served in a young offenders institution.