Machete children threat: Michael Rees-Armstrong jailed
A man has been jailed for 22 months after waving a machete and threatening to kill children who had kicked a ball into his garden.
Michael Rees-Armstrong, 47, from Llysfaen in Colwyn Bay, Conwy, told the boys he would slash their throats, Mold Crown Court was told.
Rees-Armstrong claimed to have suffered years of harassment from neighbours.
The court heard that he had significant mental health problems, including depression.
He had made a number of complaints about teenagers causing difficulties for him and his wife.
Eggs had been pelted at their house and cars had been parked across their driveway.
The court was told Rees-Armstrong reported incidents to North Wales Police and housing authorities with very little success.
Rees-Armstrong admitted affray and possessing the machete which put him in breach of a suspended sentence.
Judge Philip Hughes told Rees-Armstrong he had been irritated by some boys.
"But what you did on this occasion was completely unacceptable - you came out brandishing a machete," he added.
Gwen Henshaw, defending, said his mental health difficulties made him angry quickly, and he tried to tried to assert authority by making ridiculous but frightening threats.
She said many of the defendant's threats were beyond belief, and he was very vulnerable.