A KNIFEMAN who attacked a friend in his own home was "out of his mind," on drugs and could not remember anything about it, a court was told.

Burnley Crown Court heard how father-to-be Andrew Butler, 32, had been released on licence from a five-year jail term months before and then spent two months on the run before his arrest.

Sentencing Butler to a total of two years in prison, Recorder Robert Platts said he feared for the defendant's child if Butler and his partner, who was on methadone, did not give up drugs.

He added he hoped Butler could put his life back together -- and if he did not, his custodial sentences would start to double in length.

Butler, of Chapelhouse Road, Nelson, had earlier been convicted of affray.

John Wilson, prosecuting, said last November, Butler called at the victim's home, where he lived with his girlfriend and baby. The defendant put his hand across the man's throat, said: "Give me all," and as the complainant managed to push Butler away, three knives fell to the floor.

A struggle followed, the victim managed to push the defendant into the garden and locked the front door.

Butler kicked at the front and back doors and then banged on the living room window, smashing glass, some of which fell into the seven-month-old baby's pram. Police arrived, Butler was arrested and two knives and a dagger were found at the victim's home.

Mr Wilson said in 1996, Butler was jailed for five years, after being convicted of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and burglary. He was released on licence in June, 1999.

Roger Baldwin, defending, said Butler had very good insight into his own drug problems and did not seek to blame anybody else. He knew what had happened in his life was entirely his own fault.

He said the offence was bizarre, was committed against a friend and the defendant couldn't remember a thing about it.

In recent months, he had made some efforts to put his life on a more even keel and was intelligent enough to respond to help offered to him.