A NORTHWICH man who trashed his grandmother's home and went on a rampage during a psychotic episode has been spared an immediate spell behind bars.

David Wade, of Britannia Road in Cuddington, was told by a judge that he was only partly to blame for his 'disgraceful behaviour' on the early evening of November 1 last year.

The 31-year-old father-of-two had stopped taking medication and been drinking, before an argument broke out over a bottle of vodka at his grandmother's home on Beech Road in Runcorn.

Wade, who has more than a dozen convictions as a juvenile, had been living a normal and respectful life for at least the last decade, before the 'disgraceful' and 'truly terrifying' incident.

He was appearing at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday, January 19, where he was sentenced for five offences, including one count of affray, two of possessing a bladed article and two of criminal damage.

Anna Price, prosecuting said Wade and his father got into an argument over a bottle of vodka, before the pair continued the dispute outside.

"His father was sitting in a red Ford Fiesta and Wade leaned into the car and tried to punch him several times," she said.

"Wade was then witnessed using his foot to smash a window on the car before he dragged his father from the vehicle."

He attacked his father with several kicks, before turning on his own partner who tried to intervene, while another witness said they saw Wade stab his father several times.

Wade's father was taken to hospital after the incident but he did not wish to make a statement of complaint about the injuries he received.

Ms Price went on to say how Wade also pushed his own grandmother to the floor when she came outside, before he attempted to pull the car door off and smashed a window in her bungalow.

"Wade then threatened to punch a neighbour, who had led his grandmother to safety," Ms Price added.

"After going back into his grandmother's home the defendant than came back outside carrying a knife in each hand and continued to swing at the neighbour."

A portion of the incident was captured on the doorbell camera of a neighbour and, at around 5.30pm, armed police arrived on the scene. Before they managed to restrain Wade, he removed his top and went back inside the home, smashing ornaments and threatening the next person who came in would be 'gutted like a fish'.

Rhia Abukhalil, defending, said how her client had stopped taking his medication for serious mental health issues and had suffered the episode as a result.

She said: "He thought he no longer needed to take the medication because he felt better.

"He is very remorseful about what happened and his mental health is now stable again.

"When medicated, it is my submission to the court that he doesn't pose a risk whatsoever to the public."

Judge Steven Everett, Honorary Recorder of Chester, told Wade that his sentencing was 'very difficult' to get right, saying how his behaviour that night had been 'disgraceful'.

He said: "On the one hand your behaviour was disgraceful and truly terrifying and could have resulted in serious injury.

"But on the other, it was slightly out of your control due to your mental health issues.

"Like so many others, you stopped taking your medication because you thought you were well.

"But the reason you were well was because you had been taking your medication.

"You had spent the best part of 10 years rebuilding your life and being a decent member of the community.

"I believe there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation, but that's up to you."

The judge went on to say it had been 'a close run thing' but decided that Wade's mental health would be better managed in the community rather in custody.

Having spent the last three and a half months at HMP Altcourse, he had already served the equivalent of a seven-month prison sentence.

Judge Everett sentenced him to 20 months in prison, but suspended that for a period of two years.

Wade will instead have to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and a 40-day rehabilitation requirement.

He must also pay £1,500 compensation to his grandmother, who was also granted a restraining order against him for five years, with her being the only person who can initiate contact.