A MAN threatened to kill his father and sister and torch the family home during an alcohol-fuelled rant, a court was told.

Drunken Matthew Baughan made the threat during one of several occasions on which he flouted a restraining order by visiting his parents' property at Ashurst.

Baughan, 32, previously of Leyton Road, Southampton, was handed the order after assaulting his father.

Describing an incident that occurred last month Martin Booth, prosecuting, told Southampton Crown Court that the defendant arrived uninvited and fell asleep in the back garden, having drunk a large amount of vodka.

Mr Booth said Baughan's father and sister decided not to wake him up because they feared he would become violent.

When he woke of his own accord he told them: "If you get me nicked I'll kill you all and set the house on fire."

Mr Booth added: "Baughan helped himself to a quantity of beers, one of which he drank. His sister poured the others down the sink to prevent him drinking them."

Police were called and the defendant was arrested at the scene.

Baughan, currently living at Dankworth Road in Basingstoke, had previous convictions for offences involving violence and threatening behaviour, the court was told.


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Jonathan Underhill, mitigating, said his client was "desperate" to tackle his addiction to alcohol. Recalling a recent conversation he said the defendant told him: "If I carry on like this I'm going to kill myself."

Mr Underhill added: "This is clearly a man who needs the support the probation service can offer."

Baughan, who admitted breaching the restraining order, told Judge Forster: "My route to alcohol is that I cannot cope with what's going on in my head."

Judge Brian Forster QC told him: "People wouldn't believe the amount of alcohol you have consumed over the years, but you are also a man about whom good things can be said.

"There are good grounds for optimism in your case.

"Everyone is speaking with the same voice, including yourself. This is the moment to get everyone working together."

Baughan was handed a two-year community order, with a requirement to complete 12 months of alcohol treatment. The restraining order was extended by a year.

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