A recluse who threatened to decapitate his neighbour and “spill his belly on the floor” with a samurai sword has been jailed.

James Franklin made the threats to police and housing officers amid a dispute — a firearm was later discovered at his Hythe home.

The 27-year-old told the authorities he was going to kill Emma Griffis and her then-partner Mark Porter, over the phone on January 11.

When officers raided Franklin’s flat - based on the same floor as his victim’s home - they discovered a Taser and samurai sword.

A court heard Franklin became frenzied during a year-long row when he told the authorities he was going to “slice people’s heads off.”

The couple's young children now suffer nightmares following the abuse inside the Spring Lane flats in Hythe.

Canterbury Crown Court heard Franklin last year posted Mr Porter a warped letter that read: “I would like to fight you Mark but I need your permission to do so.”

“I will never get this time back that James stole from me and my family, my children are still suffering..." Emma Griffis

The couple have since split “following the pressure” of Franklin’s threats and Miss Griffis has moved away.

Prosecutor Ian Foinette said: “She has moved away from the area, she describes how her daughter had been having nightmares, how she was on edge all the time.

“She says she is paranoid about what her new neighbours will be like.

“I’m tearful even giving this statement,” she added.

“I will never get this time back that James stole from me and my family, my children are still suffering.”

Franklin appeared emotionless and looked ahead as the victim impact statement was read.

The court heard officers discovered a broken Taser disguised as a torch, which Franklin claimed he bought unknowingly, at Ashford market.

But he pleaded guilty to possessing the firearm and a small amount of cannabis at a previous hearing.

Yet Franklin denied making threats to kill despite what Judge Simon James dubbed “overwhelming evidence.”

He was convicted by a jury earlier this year.

Judge James told Franklin: “The evidence you gave in trial has led me to conclude there is an abject lack of remorse and it is indicative of an individual with no real insight.

“During the trial I heard a great deal about about your relationship with your neighbour.”

The judge added a psychiatric report identified Franklin as having a “paranoid personality structure.”

Franklin was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail for making threats to kill and six months consecutively for possessing the firearm. He was ordered not to attempt to contact his victims for fives years under a restraining order.

Mitigating, Dominic Benthall said his "intelligent" client suffers Post Traumatic Stress Disorder following a childhood trauma.

"Although the threats were made there was no use of violence," the barrister added.

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