Green-fingered husband threatened to kill his wife of 41 years and burn down family home after she insisted he mow their rain-sodden front lawn

Briscall pleaded guilty to making threats to damage or destroy propertyDefence said his client had been grieving over the loss of his father and nephew

A green-fingered husband threatened to kill his wife of 41 years and burn down their family home after she insisted he mow their rain sodden front lawn.

Steven Briscall, 57, lost his temper and told childhood sweetheart Debbie Briscall, 'I will bury you' when they began arguing over whether cutting the wet grass might damage his mower, Warrington magistrates court heard.

The father of two and former farmhand called 999 during an explosive rant and twice said that he was going to kill his wife, also 57, or 'knock her out' as she stood nearby, the prosecution said.

Mr Briscall also suggested the operator tell her to get out of their £180,000 house at the end of a cul-de-sac in the village of Hartford, near Northwich, Cheshire.

Police attended the scene to find Mrs Briscall upset and shaken by the incident. She declined to make a statement telling officers she wanted to stand by her husband - before appearing in court with their daughter to 'support' him.

Steven Briscall, pictured left, lost his temper and told former childhood sweetheart Debbie Briscall, pictured right, 'I will bury you'

The former herdsman and farmhand flipped when his wife asked him to mow the wet lawn

The couple's front lawn is thought to have gone uncut for several weeks as a result of heavy rain last month.

Gardening experts say wet grass clippings can clog a mower, cause it to choke and spit out clumps of wet grass that can smother and even kill the lawn if left unraked.

At Warrington magistrates court, Briscall pleaded guilty to making threats to damage or destroy property and was sentenced to an 18-month community order with requirements that he attends 35 rehabilitation activity days.

He was also fined £100 and ordered to pay £199 in costs. His wife and their daughter were in court to support him.

Joseph Kindley, prosecuting, said: 'The victim in this matter is the defendant's wife. They have been together for over 40 years.

'On the 14 April the defendant himself has called 999. Two separate calls were made. He says to the officers, he will knock his wife out if she does not stop and he said he will kill her. He said that twice. He asked the operator to get her out of the house.

'He said he will burn the house down. He says "I will bury you" towards his wife. The victim can be heard in the background of the call.

'Officers did attend the scene and spoke to the defendant's wife. She said that day the defendant said he was going to kill her and she believed him.

'She was upset and crying. The officer said she was shaken by the incident and distressed about speaking about it.

'There was an interview. The defendant admitted making the calls but he could not remember making them being intoxicated at the time.

'He said he had no intention to burn the house down. His intention was to get help. He was asked about knocking her out but he said that was to get his anxiety out.'

'The victim did not provide a statement. My understanding is that she is not wishing to proceed with the prosecution. The prosecution has led with 999 calls that were made.

'The offence is aggravated by being a domestic incident and there is a reference to being under the influence of alcohol at the time of the matters. But there is no application in relation to the restraining order.

'It appears that the victim wants to pursue a relationship with the defendant after proceedings have concluded.'

In mitigation Briscall's lawyer David Thompson said his client had been grieving over the loss of his father and nephew.

'He has been involved in a relationship with the alleged complainant for some 40 years, he added. 'By my calculation they have been together since they were 17 years of age.

'There was an argument about the defendant not cutting the grass. As he saw it, it was too wet so an argument developed. The complainant still wants to pursue a relationship.

Both the victim and their daughter attended court to 'lend support to the defendant', he added.

Ms Briscall and their daughter attended court to 'lend support', the defence said

The couple's home and lawn at the end of a cul-de-sac in the village of Hartford

'It was [Briscall] who telephoned the police as he knew he was going into a bad place. He knew he was having an episode and his temper got the better of him. There was no intention to carry the threats out. It was more a cry for help.

'Although he consumed a small amount of alcohol on that day it was his mental health that was the precursor to this incident rather than his use of alcohol.

'Though there was some alcohol that should not be regarded as an aggravating factor. 'He was somewhere between three and four out of ten as far intoxication was concerned.

'It is accepted that it is an aggravating factor that this was a domestic incident but there are a number of mitigating factors to cancel out to zero the aggravating factors.

'His attitude is clearly one of remorse. He made a mistake and he has been the first to admit he has made a mistake.'