A drunken husband who left his wife and daughter terrified by chasing them down the street with an axe has been jailed.
Kevin Cutter had split from his partner of 30 years but was continuing to live in the marital home in Sunderland.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that on November 4 last year, his wife, daughter and eight-year-old granddaughter were there when he came in extremely intoxicated and acting aggressively.
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He told his pregnant daughter he would burn out her shop then swiped the glasses from the face of her mum and spat in her face.
Two days later he returned home at 2am, again very drunk, and his wife tried to help him upstairs and he told her: "I'm going to kill you, just wait until tomorrow".
Annalise Haugstad, prosecuting, told the court: "He began pushing her and their daughter was woken by the disturbance.
"The defendant spat in her mother's face then started directing his attention to her daughter, shouting racial slurs at his daughter about her partner, who's from Pakistan.
"The eight-year-old was there and could hear everything that was being said.
"The ladies were forced to leave the house to get away from the behaviour of the defendant.
"He grabbed an axe from a cupboard and shouted 'I will show you what I can do' and followed them.
"They were absolutely terrified. He was shouting at them and moved towards them with the axe."
The police arrived, bringing the 40 minute incident to a close.
Cutter, 45, of Hylton Road, Sunderland,who has 12 previous convictions, admitted two common assaults and affray and was jailed for six months. He was also made subject to a ten-year restraining order not to contact his estranged wife and daughter.
Recorder Nathan Adams told him: "The whole incident must have been absolutely terrifying. This was an extremely serious matter."
Andrew Walker, defending, said: "He is ashamed of his behaviour and so he should be, this was an awful display of conduct.
"Thankfully the physical harm was limited but the psychological impact on those who should be closest to him is, frankly, immeasurable.
"This was not part of a pattern of domestic violence."
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