Suspended jail for man who had pole at pub

Police were contacted by a CCTV operator with concerns about a man with a pole outside the Pride of the Peaks pub, New Mills, on April 1, High Peak Magistrates’ Court heard.

The landlady of the pub also contacted police when the man, Daniel Webster, began causing trouble, prosecutor Jennifer Fitzgerald said. Webster had been drinking in the pub before being involved in arguments with other customers and being asked to leave.

He went outside and began remonstrating with the landlady’s husband and then went to a nearby van where he took out a yellow pole and began brandishing it.

He continued to be aggressive and punched a male at the scene.

In interview, he told police he had drunk 15 to 18 pints of Carling lager in the space of 12 hours.

Webster, of Buxton Road, Disley, pleaded guilty to using threatening, insulting or abusive words and behaviour.

Annis Rowlands, defending, said: “He had been assaulted (before this incident took place) and that is why he saw red.

“He felt threatened by a number of people on the street and their demeanour at that time.”

Webster was given an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 24 months and a community order with a 12-month supervision requirement and 140 hours unpaid work.

He must pay £85 costs and an £80 surcharge.