A man has been jailed for 40 months after he threatened another with a knife in his bedsit after climbing in through an open window.

Leeds Crown Court heard the victim Bartlojiew Wicher had gone to sleep at his address in Blackhouse Road, Fartown on December 2 last year but left the ground floor window open so his cats could have access.

Artur Serafin claimed Mr Wicher had borrowed £350 from him and after gaining “Dutch courage” by drinking and smoking some skunk cannabis he decided to get it back from him after previous efforts had failed, Nicholas Worsley representing him told the court.

He had knocked on the door and whether Mr Wicher had heard him or not he had not answered and it was then Serafin saw the window and decided to climb inside.

They argued and there was a fight. Serafin said in his basis of plea: “I thought I was losing so I grabbed a knife in the room. I waved it around but didn’t try to cut or stab him with it.”

Joseph Spencer prosecuting said in fact Mr Wicher did get a cut to the palm of his hand and one to his arm. The pair then went to a cash machine where the victim got some money out and gave it to Serafin who still had the knife.

When Serafin left he took the other man’s laptop and mobile phone claiming later he took them until the rest of the debt was paid, although returning the SIM card to him, he said.

Mr Worsley told the court Serafin felt he could not afford to forego the loan. “This was not a home invasion of a stranger or an elderly or vulnerable person. It does not make it right but it is part of the explanation.”

He said Serafin was of previous good character and had worked regularly in various factories without ever claiming benefit since his arrival from Poland.

Serafin, 21 of Beech Street, Paddock, admitted robbery and possessing a bladed article.

Jailing him Recorder Ray Singh said: “I take into account but only to a limited extent, that the background was you saying there was a debt owed to you. That may well to some extent explain why you committed this offence but it is not defence to what you did thereafter.”