LOYAL mother Linda Self has spoken of her intense relief after her son escaped a prison sentence for threatening to murder his stepfather.

Mrs Self, of Charles Street, Trowbridge, spoke of her family's close bond after the verdict at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.

Carpenter Glenn Brightwell, 20, sparked a full-scale police operation after threatening to stab his stepfather John in the head with a knife and bury him in the back garden.

Mrs Self said she loved her son and was delighted to have him back home.

She said: "I have supported him all the time. We all love him. Even his stepfather didn't want all this to happen."

Brightwell, who admitted charges of affray and making threats to kill, locked himself in the family home on May 10, lying in wait for Mr Self to return home. When police officers arrived Brightwell, armed with a knife, lunged at them through a window. PC Dave Sharpe ducked out of danger moments before the knife was plunged towards his head.

After chasing PC Sharpe and Sgt Ron Peach along Charles Street wielding a baseball bat and kitchen knife, Brightwell launched a vicious attack on a neighbour before locking himself in his home.

As he was sentenced to a two-year rehabilitation order by Judge Thomas Crowther on Friday, Brightwell was warned his actions and fiery temper could easily lead to murder.

Judge Crowther said: "There is in this very court a jury trying a case of murder which arose out of an outburst of anger.

"Your actions could have had very serious consequences indeed. I hope you remember that no-one can wave a magic wand which will change your temperament and way of life."

Ian Pringle, prosecuting, said the incident came after Brightwell quarrelled with Mr Self while they were working together.

Brightwell twice made threats to his stepfather over the phone, then hurled an object at his mother from a window when she returned home to reason with him. Police were called, leading to the chase down the street.

Brightwell's history of violence includes five convictions for common assault, one conviction for actual bodily harm and one conviction of making threats to kill.

Defence solicitor George Threlfall said medical reports on Brightwell said an extended spell in prison would do him more harm than good.

Anger management problems during his four months in jail on remand led to problems at Ashford Young Offenders Institution where he was being detained, forcing a transfer to Horfield Prison.