A man who was banned from a social club for swearing returned with a shovel and demolished the bar in front of petrified staff, a court heard yesterday.

James Toal, 46, smashed 23 spirit optics and destroyed four beer pump heads as he swung the shovel about wildly in Scarborough's Mere Social Club, from which he was expelled last April, said Tom Storey, prosecuting, at York Crown Court.

But Toal, of Spring Bank, Scarborough, who went on to battle with police dressed in riot gear, and who admitted threatening and abusive behaviour, escaped a prison sentence Mr Justice Bennett said he "richly deserved".

The judge said no useful purpose would he served by putting Toal inside, and instead ordered him to do 150 hours' community service.

Mr Storey said Toal had been barred from the club for abusive behaviour and swearing at the bar staff.

However, later the same day he returned to the premises carrying a shovel.

He told a member of the bar staff: "If you have anything to say about me, don't say it behind my back" and proceeded to swing the shovel around, causing substantial damage, before leaving.

Police went to Toal's home and were met with abuse and had to call in officers in riot gear.

He later admitted smashing up the bar, saying he had been told off for swearing. He said: "I was fed up with them (the committee) and just exploded."

Toal, who has previous convictions for criminal damage and assaulting the police, said he had drunk 12 bottles of beer.

In mitigation, Anne Munday said Toal had deteriorated after the collapse of his marriage. He believed his difficulties led to some kind of breakdown and he took out his frustrations on the club and the police.

Toal was ordered to pay £150 compensation to the club