A REVELLER swung a punch at a barman who refused to serve him before his friend threw a stool at a chandelier, a court heard.

Along with the public order offence, Ayden Carrick, 19, also pleaded guilty to stealing more than £200 from a taxi driver ten days later, on August 21.

Blair Martin, prosecuting at Darlington Magistrates' Court, said: "He said to the duty manager of Yates bar, in Skinnergate, in Darlington, 'give us a f***ing drink', before being made to leave.

"He then swung a punch at him, which missed. One of his friends threw a stool at a chandelier, which bounced off and hit the duty manager causing him injury.

"The manager said he was looking forward to a long career in the hospitality industry, but this incident had caused him to lose his confidence, so now that is no longer possible."

Mr Martin also provided the court with details of the theft on August 21.

"Mr Carrick leaned through the open window of a taxi he had been travelling in to take the driver's money bag, which contained between £200 and £250 - based on average takings."

Lisa Scott, for Carrick, said: "He has stopped going out drinking because of these incidents. He was going through a hard time and had been turning to drink during the few weeks in question.

"He has no recollection of the theft and, with relation to the public order offence, I would imagine that the chair being thrown across the room had more of an effect on the manager than his missed punch."

The case against Carrick, who lives in Milton Street, Darlington, was adjourned until Thursday, October 27 while a pre-sentence report is carried out.