A MAN brandishing a makeshift weapon comprising of a knife taped to a wrench entered a home in Greenstead before threatening a family, a court has heard.

The trial into Bradley Wood, 30, opened at Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday, with a jury sworn in and barrister Ryan Evans opening the case for the prosecution.

The jury heard how Wood, of Honeysuckle Close, Colchester, entered his neighbour’s flat on the evening of Monday, October 17, holding a knife which had been taped to the end of a wrench.

Wood, who was said to be shouting at James Allport, his wife Shirley, and stepdaughter Tina, had been enraged by an incident which involved damage to his car, and is accused of pushing Mr Allport to the floor during the fracas.

Gazette: Charged - Bradley Wood, 30, faces five charges and is currently standing trial at Ipswich Crown CourtCharged - Bradley Wood, 30, faces five charges and is currently standing trial at Ipswich Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Three charges of threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a private place, one charge of affray, and one charge of actual bodily harm have all been denied by Wood.

Mr Evans, prosecuting, said: “At 6.20pm on October 17, James Allport, his partner Shirley, and their stepdaughter Tina were sitting in the living room when they heard a loud noise when someone came in through the front door – it was the defendant.

“The prosecution says the defendant had with him a knife and a wrench taped to the end of it; the defendant pushed Mr Allport to the floor and stood over him whilst holding the knife.

“Mr Allport was told to move back to the sofa, and was shouting and accusing him of causing damage to his car.”

The court then heard how Wood, who now works on a building site in Southend, was forced back into the hallway by Mr Allport’s stepdaughter.

Wood is then said to left the property and returned to his neighbouring flat in Honeysuckle Close, with the police arriving shortly afterwards.

Gazette: Incident - there was a clash between Bradley Wood and his neighbour James Allport in Honeysuckle Way, Greenstead, Colchester last yearIncident - there was a clash between Bradley Wood and his neighbour James Allport in Honeysuckle Way, Greenstead, Colchester last year (Image: Google Street View)

The prosecution continued: “Police then attended Wood’s property; after some time, Wood let the officers into his flat.

“Police then found a large handled kitchen knife, a metal pole with masking tape on one end, and a wrench.

“The prosecution’s case is that the defendant threatened three people with a knife and that was an immediate risk of serious harm to each of them.”

Justin Rivett, defending, will open his case on Thursday morning.

The trial continues.