A MAN who drunkenly threatened passers-by with hurling sticks has been banned from pubs and bars for six months.

Niall Keith Hawkins, aged 40, and of St Michael's Lane in Bridport, pleaded guilty to an affray charge when he appeared at Weymouth Magistrates Court.

Magistrates heard that police were called to a social club in Bridport at 7.20pm on January 15, to reports that Hawkins was shouting at two youngsters and claiming they had assaulted him.

Elizabeth Valera, prosecuting, said that when police arrived, they saw Hawkins had an injury to his face and had lost his bottom tooth.

In a statement, a police officer said Hawkins was drunk, difficult to deal with and wasn't making a lot of sense. They took him home and said they would return to make enquiries the next day.

Mrs Valera said Hawkins returned to the club however, this time with hurling sticks, and shouted that he was going to assault people with them. He sprinted off from police and then threatened young people heading out of a pizza shop.

Hawkins eventually put the sticks down when requested by police.

Kenneth Sharpe, mitigating, said: "On the evening in question he had consumed alcohol, there were a lot of things going on in his mind. He was also suffering ill health.

"There has been ownership of the wrongdoing and there has been regret expressed."

Chairman of the bench Judith Boichot sentenced Hawkins to a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work. He is also excluded from any place that sells alcohol for consumption on the premises. Hawkins was further ordered to pay £170 in costs.