A FORMER NHS worker who chased a man down the street brandishing a knife avoided jail on Wednesday despite a judge branding his defence “preposterous” lies.

Joe Temple had got drunk and gone to David Watson and his mother’s home in Highworth Place, Witney, with a friend on September 28, Judge Peter Ross said.

The pair began throwing stones at the house, he added, and as Mr Temple and his friend began to walk away Watson grabbed a kitchen knife, rushed from the house and chased them down The Croft and into Corn Street.

The court heard that Mr Temple was under enormous emotional pressure because his mother had split up with his dad to begin a relationship Watson’s twin brother John.

Jane Malcolm, defending, said Watson knew he was wrong to go out and confront the pair, but the family home had been targeted a number of times by different people.

She added: “There is clearly a background of torment, abuse of his family and the family home.

“This was the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

Miss Malcolm said that the former hospital worker had now moved to Whitbeck Court, Newcastle, with his mum and was signed off work with depression.

Despite Watson denying having a knife and claiming it was a ruler, a jury at Oxford Crown Court unanimously found him guilty of affray and possessing a bladed article in a public place on Tuesday.

Judge Peter Ross told the 24-year-old his defence had been “preposterous” and demanded to know if he now accepted he had wielded a knife.

He said: “It was the most preposterous defence. The oath meant absolutely nothing to you.”

When pressed by Judge Ross about having the knife, Watson whispered a quiet “yes”.

Watson was visibly shaken when Judge Ross asked him how his previous night in HMP Bullingdon had been.

Miss Malcolm said he was terrified by the prospect of returning to jail and when asked by Judge Ross how the night had been he answered “horrible”.

Despite criticising Watson and his mum over the defence, Judge Ross said he could spare him jail, while Watson stood weeping.

He added: “You are a foolish, immature young man.

“You chose to have your trial, you chose to present your complete tissue of lies in relation to the weapon.”

Watson was given 16 months in jail suspended for two years, with two years supervision, a six-month curfew, 10 education, training and employment sessions and was ordered to pay £1,500 in costs.

However Judge Ross warned Watson’s mum she could be charged with perjury and said if Watson ever considered breaching his curfew he should remember his night in Bullingdon prison.

He also requested Mr Temple attend court to be bound over to keep the peace.