THREATS were made by a man armed with a machete in a feud over allegedly being “grassed up” to police for driving while disqualified.

The girlfriend of the man being accused of “informing” on Colin High received a call from a friend warning her he was on the way round with the weapon, at 10.35pm on July 23.

Durham Crown Court was told the two men knew each other from selling dogs.

Anthony Dunne, prosecuting, said almost immediately a Land Rover Freelander driven by High, with front seat passenger Christopher Haslam, turned up beeping its horn at the back of the threatened man’s property, in New Kyo, near Stanley.

The householder went out and saw High holding the weapon in the vehicle.

High said he was going to, “cut up” the man’s dog and said he had come over after being reported to police.

He emerged from the vehicle and ran towards the back gate of the property, hitting it hard with the machete.

The householder retreated back into the property and as the police were summoned, the defendant drove away with his accomplice making threats what would happen if officers went to seek them.

While police were at his address the man received a threatening Facebook message from Haslam warning him of the consequences if they were reported to police.

Mr Dunne said police found both defendants at Haslam’s address the following day.

They were arrested, although High kicked and pulled away from an officer.

While, at the police station, Haslam deliberately blocked his cell toilet, causing damage and putting it out of use for several hours.

High, 41, of Sycamore Terrace, New Kyo, admitted affray, possessing a bladed article and resisting police.

Haslam, 28, of Lumsden Terrace, in nearby Catchgate, admitted sending a malicious message and criminal damage of the cell.

Chris Morrison, for High, said the background to the “one-off encounter” arose from a series of “fallings out” between his client and the complainant in the case, after he bought a dog from the defendant.

Mr Morrison said it led to a number of visits to High’s house by the other man, causing anguish to his girlfriend.

“He acknowledges his reaction was excessive and entirely out of order.”

Lorraine Mustard, for Haslam, said his role was limited to the message, which was never acted on, and for which he has been in custody for the last month.

Judge James Adkin said onlookers feared a serious outbreak of disorder and were alarmed by the incident.

He imposed prison sentences of 15 months on High and three months on Haslam.

Both were made subject of five-year restraining orders forbidding contact with the complainant in the case.