A MAN charged with slashing a man across the face in Ellesmere Port tried to headbutt an arresting officer and threatened to rape his wife and children.

Michael McTigue, 31, appeared at Chester Magistrates Court this morning (Thursday, May 10).

He entered no plea to wounding and possession of a knife as the offences are so serious they must be dealt with at the crown court.

However, he pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer on Wednesday (May 9) - the day after the alleged knife attack on Station Road – and was fined £80.

McTigue, who yawned throughout the hearing, was remanded in custody and will appear at Chester Crown Court next month.

Prosecuting, Rob Youds said officers attended a property on St Andrew’s Road in Ellesmere Port at around 9am on May 9.

They shouted through the letterbox to say they would smash down the door unless it was opened immediately.

McTigue, who was on the couch in the living room of the property, then called back: “Well put it in then.”

He was arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and possession of a blade but became abusive and began struggling and resisting, Mr Youds said.

The defendant then tried to headbutt one of the officers, only slightly grazing the chin, and was quickly taken to the ground.

“He was completely out of control and unpredictable,” Mr Youds told the court. “He was saying ‘you f****t, I’m going to follow you home and rape your wife and children’.”

It emerged that McTigue has 13 previous convictions for 24 offences, three of which related to violence.

However, Chris Hunt, defending, said his client had not committed a violent offence in nearly a decade and had been out of trouble for five years.

He stressed McTigue had entered an early guilty plea to the assault on the officer and that no physical injury had been caused.

Besides the fine, the defendant was also ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge.