A MAN who frightened neighbours by hammering on his ex-partner’s door while wielding an axe has been jailed for 15 months.

Bolton Crown Court heard how 43-year-old Shaun Walmsley attacked his ex-partner’s home in Celia Street, Great Lever, with friend Mark Byron on November 22 last year.

Byron was seen carrying a kitchen knife banging on the door of the house, with Walmsley carrying an axe, shouting ‘I’m going to f***ing kill you, you’re going to get it’.”

Maria Brennan, prosecuting, told the court how a concerned neighbour came out of the house to question the men’s actions before being threatened by Walmsley.

“She panicked and ran back inside shutting the door, Walmsley banged on her door with the axe before going back to the other address,” Ms Brennan said.

“She genuinely thought the axe was going to used on her.”

She phoned the police, which Walmsley saw, saying he was “going to get some people”, however she stayed on the phone until police arrived.

Walmsley was arrested at the address on Celia Street with the incident leaving the neighbour “in fear of future attacks and always checking her front door”.

The court heard that Walmsley had 20 previous convictions for 30 different offences, with the last occurring in 2013 and that the coronavirus lockdown had caused his relationship to end and severely affected his mental health.

Nick Ross, defending, said Walmsley should be given credit for pleading guilty to the offences and that he does not have much recollection of the incident due to being on Valium at the time.

“He wishes he had walked away from the incident and feels very daft for being involved, he also understands the seriousness of it and feels he has let his family down,” Mr Ross said.

Judge Timothy Stead told Walmsley: “You do have a record of offending but it is getting to some antiquity. I am going to err on the generous side.”

Walmsley was sentenced to 15 months for possession of an offensive weapon and 10 months for affray which are to be served concurrently, meaning he will spend a total of 15 months in custody.

Byron was also jailed for 15 months at Bolton Crown Court in February of this year.