A MAN who burst into a friend's home wielding a knife and a baseball bat in a row over money has been spared jail.

During Adam Witney's violent home invasion he tried to jab the blade at one man before stuffing a photograph in his mouth and 'chewing it.'

The 35-year-old of Long Close, Oxford, was set to stand trial for the incident but went on to admit the violence instead.

He was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court today for affray, having a knife and two counts of causing criminal damage.

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Outlining the case at the hearing prosecutor Richard Padley said the violent episode took place on December 1 2018.

Three people were at an address in the Wood Farm area of Oxford when one heard a 'commotion taking place outside.'

Moments later Witney burst into the living room of the house with a baseball bat in his hand and approached one of the occupants.

That man's girlfriend took it upon herself to stand between Witney and her partner in a bid to calm the situation.

Witney was then seen to have a knife in his hand, described by prosecutors as black handled and nine inches in length.

He 'attempted to jab' at the man he had approached before hitting the living room walls with the bat.

Bizarrely, Witney then removed a picture from a frame before putting it in his mouth.

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That picture was recovered 'in a chewed up state' prosecutors said.

Witney was arrested the following day and the knife and bat were found in his car.

He told police he had gone to the address 'following a disagreement about money' and he accepted taking the photograph.

The court heard that Witney also has a previous conviction for violence - that of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

In mitigation Peter Du Feu said that the victims in the case had been Witney's friends.

He said that his client had gone to the house 'in order to vent his spleen' and to 'scare them.'

Mr Du Feu added that Witney didn't swing the bat at anybody and didn't lunge with the knife.

Sentencing, Judge Ian Pringle QC said: "They were good friends of yours but you went into their property that day with a knife and you behaved in a way which was terrifying for them.

"Appalling behaviour which I am sure you recognise.

"Bad behaviour and behaviour which would normally merit a custodial sentence of some sort.

"But you are an interesting case because you have not just done nothing in the last 18 months."

He was handed a 12-month community order to include a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement and 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Witney was also ordered to pay a statutory victim surcharge.