A HOLYWELL man has been handed a community order after making drunken threats to stab children in an ongoing “war” with his neighbours, a court heard.

Lee Ferguson, of Meadowbank in Holway, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Tuesday for sentence.

The dad-of-eight had previously been found guilty of affray after trial, but not guilty for the possession of a knife.

Jade Tufail, prosecuting, told the court that during the early hours of a morning in October 2019, 34-year-old Ferguson was in the street with the appearance of having been “drinking heavily.”

He was arguing with a number of people who also lived in Meadowbank.

While shouting and swearing, he threatened to stab them and their children.

Police arrived to find a large number of people involved in the dispute and the court heard “tensions were very high on all sides.”

Ferguson was arrested and during interview he told police he’d been drinking during the day and night, claiming he remembered little of the incident.

The court heard the offence was committed during the currency of a 12 month conditional discharge.

Philip Clemo, defending, said: “He is disappointed with the verdict of affray, but he accepts it.

“He is very willing to engage with probation in a very helpful package of intervention and reforms that they could make in his life.

“He has had to live with his mum and has for six months been on a qualifying curfew, so he hasn’t been there day-to-day to help with his children.

“He’s missed big parts of things like Christmas and birthdays, so the children have suffered as a result and that breaks his heart.

“He did have a job, but he lost it as a result of this.”

Mr Clemo said following the ongoing issues between Ferguson and his neighbours, he is due to move out of the street in the near future.

Judge Nicola Jones told Ferguson: “You were drink in the early hours of the morning - you made vile comments about about people’s children and threatened to stab people.

“It appears you have been at war with your neighbours and they with you.

“They all gathered on the street and gave as good as they got, but you were the instigator.

“Things could have gotten so much worse - there was potential for even greater disorder.”

Ferguson received an 18 month community order, with a requirement that he undertake 19 sessions on an accredited programme, as well as alcohol treatment.

He received a 12 month concurrent community order for breaching the conditional discharge and was ordered to pay a £90 victim surcharge.

The Judge added: “I make no order for costs or compensation given you have eight children and no job.”

“The impact of awarding costs and compensation would be on your family rather than you and they frankly have suffered enough as a result of your actions.”