A MAN who made chilling threats of violence to his grandmother has received a jail term from a judge.

Luke Thompson, 29, was temporarily lodging at Vera Colldrey's Flookburgh home in South Cumbria when his criminal conduct occurred on two separate dates.

Although there was no actual physical contact, Thompson pleaded guilty to two common assaults on March 15 and March 25.

He was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court today.

Prosecutor Clare Thomas said 80-year-old Mrs Colldrey invited Thompson to stay at her home on a temporary basis which became longer than she envisaged.

Thompson had demanded money on the days of both incidents.

On the first, when she refused to hand cash over at 4am, he got angry.

Thompson warned the petrified pensioner: "Don't you dare telephone the police.

"I will snap your fingers if you do that."

Ten days later, after Thompson had stayed out all night, she declined another request for money.

"He went on to say 'I will bash you'," said prosecutor Clare Thomas.

"He said 'I could hit you, you know'."

That prompted Mrs Colldrey to hand over more than £20 in cash from a jar.

After hearing mitigation on the defendant's behalf, Recorder Jeremy Lasker imposed a six-month jail sentence.

Thompson, now of Vienna Road, Edgeley, Stockport, was said to have already served that sentence after being remanded in custody in March.

The judge decided against imposing a restraining order after hearing that Mrs Colldrey still wanted to see her grandson.

But he told Thompson: "I hope that when you next have contact with your grandmother you will behave in a very different manner."