A "DEVOTED husband" brandished a two and a half foot long sword when his computer-mad wife announced she was leaving him after visiting an Australian she had met on the internet.

Burnley Magistrates Court heard that Andrew Coffey, 45, hoped she had got the man out of her system. Instead she told him she was putting an end to their 24-year marriage.

Father-of-two Coffey, a collector of ornamental swords, armed himself with the weapon and appeared from behind some bushes outside the couple's home.

Sobbing, he then lunged towards Mrs Coffey and a police officer, shouting and swearing and was repeatedly ordered to put the sword down. He was eventually disarmed with CS gas and arrested.

The defendant, of Alderway, Gawthorpe Edge Mobile Park, Padiham, admitted affray and was warned he could be facing jail.

District Judge Paul Firth, who bailed him until October 2, told him prison was not inevitable, but he was still very much at risk.

Mark Irlam, defending, said Coffey was a hard-working family man and 18 character references had been written on his behalf by people who were shocked by his actions. He had behaved "totally out of character."

He said that last Christmas, Mrs Coffey, who had been on the computer all the time and not paying her husband any attention, moved out of their bedroom into the spare room. She was constantly going on internet chat rooms.

In July, she went to visit a man in Australia, even though Coffey had not had a holiday for five years. He was surprised and shocked she was going.

Mr Irlam said when she returned to England the day of the offence, he went to pick her up at Burnley station, hoping the friendship was over. Coffey was delighted to see her -- but was greeted with the news she wanted to return to Australia and would not be coming back.

Coffey went to his wife's bedroom with a knife, but she ignored him. He then got the sword and for some reason went outside with it.

The defendant acknowledged he waved the sword around and the officer had to back away.

The solicitor went on:" The defendant now accepts his marriage has come to an end. He is more or less of good character, is extremely ashamed and nervous about what is going to happen to him.

"He is very upset about appearing before the court and has been suffering from depression."