A MAN who threatened an elderly neighbour's nephew picked on the wrong victim as he was a black belt in karate, a court heard.

Dean Simpson, 21, told the man he was going to "slit him" but when the nephew, a second dan, "prepared for challenge", the defendant told him: "Don't touch me, I'm soft."

He then backed off and ran off to join his mates.

Simpson, who has mental health and drugs problems, admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, in July last year.

The defendant, of Waterloo Street, Clayton-le-Moors, was given a six months community order with supervision at Burnley Crown Court.

Sentencing, Judge Beverley Lunt told the defendant: "No more shouting at people. No more offences."

The court was told the nephew had spoken to Simpson, who was a neighbour of his 78-year-old aunt, about noise and loud music being played the night before.

He was polite to the defendant and told him if there were any more problems he would speak to him again.

The nephew then saw Simpson reach into his jacket and the next thing he saw was a clenched fist and what appeared to be a shiny blade, the court was told.

Simpson had previous convictions and has served jail terms, including a stretch for attempted robbery, the court was told.

Judith McCullough, defending, said Simpson found day to day life very difficult and needed help on a daily basis.