An angry father took two kitchen knives into the street and challenged his next door neighbour to a duel to settle a long standing argument over parking.
Kevin Munday, aged 51, accused his neighbour of blocking the gate behind his home in Teignmouth and preventing his disabled son's buggy from getting out.
He took the knives and offered one to neighbour Jason Davis before coming to his senses and returning to his own home, Exeter Crown Court was told.
Munday, of Bitton Avenue, Teignmouth, admitted two offences of having a knife in a public place and was jailed for six months, suspended for a year and ordered to pay £200 costs.
Judge Erik Salomonsen told him:"Your neighbour made a habit of parking his van outside your address and on the day in question, on your account, he parked very close to your gate.
"Your four-year-old son suffers from Downs Syndrome and uses a buggy which is larger than most push chairs and which could not pass through the gate.
"I understand there were long standing issues in the road and it is common ground there was bad blood, perhaps on both sides, which were not resolved.
"You reacted in completely the wrong way as the dispute became more heated and went into the house and took two knives from the kitchen.
"You went outside and offered one to Mr Davis by way of inviting him in some extraordinary way to a fight using the knives.
"He was having none of it and you realised what you had done was stupid and nothing else occurred but by then the police had been called and you were arrested."
The Judge said he was able to exercise mercy and not enforce strict anti-knife guidelines because Munday suffers from mental issues for which he is being treated and helps care for the family's three children, including the four-year-old and a teenager with Asperger's Syndrome.
He said:"In all the circumstance, and taking into consideration your strong personal mitigation and that you may have been provoked by a neighbour's dispute and may be less able than others to react, it is entirely sensible to suspend the sentence."
Miss Bathsheba Cassel, prosecuting, said police were called to Bitton Avenue on the afternoon of March 5 this year after complaints that Munday had been seen in the street with two knives.
He was found with them and admitted arming himself during the dispute over parking.
Mr William Parkhill, defending, said Munday and his family are so keen to end the problems with their neighbour they have applied for a house transfer and no longer use the entrance where Mr David parks his van.
He said:"He understands the seriousness of the charges he faces and appreciates it could easily have turned out worse. There was an argument and threats."
Mr Parkhill said any financial penalty would impose a severe burden on the family who survive on benefits and struggle with the care of their three children.
