A MAN who attacked a barman and later threatened to kill him with a pickaxe handle in a busy club has been ordered to pay £100 compensation to his victim and complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard that Brian Gordon Robert Whitfield had been in Bar Mondo in his home town of Bishop Auckland with a friend at about 9.30pm on August 23 when an argument with the barman broke out.

David Maddison, prosecuting, said the 22-yearold, of Lowther Road, punched the staff member in the face and was ejected from the pub by door staff.

Whitfield returned a little while later brandishing a wooden pickaxe handle and threatening to kill the man he had earlier punched, said Mr Maddison.

Whitfield was waving the handle around and hitting the walls before he was again ushered out.

Police were called and found the 22-year-old driving his Vauxhall Vectra nearby.

He was found to have 53mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Andrew Clinton, mitigating, said Whitfield, who admitted drinkdriving, assault and affray, had recently lost his job.

As well as the compensation and unpaid work, Whitfield was also banned from driving for 12 months.