TROUBLE flared after a 25-year-old man who was the worse for drink attended a Wallasey pub from which he was barred, District Judge Alan Berg was told at Wirral Magistrates Court.

Jeffrey Paul Ward of Egerton Street, Wallasey, was convicted of causing damage to a car belonging to the licencee, Mark Wickens, and also common assault on Kelly Anne Rowan who worked at the pub.

Prosecutor Sharon Green said Ms Rowan attempted to take a pint away from Ward who had attended the Railway Hotel from which he was barred.

Ward eventually went outside and shouted abuse at the two complainants and issued threats he would murder them and burn down the premises. He spat in the face of Ms Rowan and later kicked and damaged the car, which was parked nearby.

Miss Green said damage to the car was between £2,000 and £3,000 but there was no claim for compensation as the vehicle had since been stolen.

Tessa Hinder, defending, said Ward accepted his behaviour was most unpleasant. He was drunk on the day in question and his judgement was impaired.

Judge Berg told Ward he knew he had no right to be at the pub and he behaved in an appalling way and issued threats that could have resulted in him facing more serious allegations.

He said it was despicable and disgusting to spit in the face of anyone. He obviously lost his self-control because of too much alcohol.

Ward was given four months' imprisonment suspended for 12 months. He was also made the subject of a supervision order and must serve 100 hours of unpaid community work.

The judge imposed a nightly curfew between 8pm and 7am for the next ten weeks, which means Ward will be tagged.

He also made an order excluding Ward from the Railway Hotel for 12 months and he must pay £100 compensation to Ms Rowan for the assault.