A man is said to have brandished a sword in a South Oxhey street after being told to keep the noise down, a court heard.

Aaron Tucker, 24, is alleged to have pointed the blade of the weapon at Wayne Parkes in Prestwick Road and hurled abuse at him.

St Albans Crown Court was told it happened in the early hours of February 23, 2014.

Mr Tucker, of Otley Way in South Oxhey, pleads not guilty to a single charge of having an article with a blade or point.

The jury heard how, at around 3.40am that morning, Mr Parkes was returning to his home in Prestwick Road having been out to a 50th birthday party.

Prosecutor Gabrielle McAvock said that, having got out his car, Mr Parkes was walking to the house when he became aware of the defendant nearby who was arguing with his girlfriend.

The court heard that when he told Mr Tucker to keep the noise down, the defendant became aggressive and abusive and said "I'm gonna mash your car up."

Miss McAvock said it was then that another male came up to the defendant and handed him a "large sword," a half a metre in length.

In the witness box Mr Parkes said his partner of eight years was inside the house at the time.

He said when Mr Tucker came up to him, he could smell alcohol on him. He said the other man was pointing the blade at him and swearing.

Mr Parkes then told the court that having left his car he was carrying a box of coat hangers back to his house and, because of the way Mr Tucker was behaving, he used the box to "fend him away."

He said as the defendant continued swearing at him and being aggressive, he picked up a piece of wood that was in his front garden.

The court heard Mr Parkes' partner opened the front door to let him in.

He said she went outside and he went back out and Mr Tucker ran off with the sword.

Asked about how he felt at the time, he replied "I was a bit upset and scared. I didn't know him or what his intention was."

The court heard the matter was reported to the police and Mr Tucker was later arrested.

The case is proceeding.