A yob smashed a pub window with an axe in a cocaine and alcohol-fuelled rage after he was barred for smoking cannabis.
John McDonough, 22, confronted Claire Sexton and Jamie Halpin outside The Waiting Room near Hunts Cross train station.
Liverpool Crown Court heard they were the managers of the Speke Road venue and Miss Sexton had known McDonough since she was a child.
Rebecca Smith, prosecuting, said: “She had in fact barred the defendant from the pub as a result of believing he was smoking cannabis at the premises. She believes as a result of that he took umbrage.”
The court heard the engaged couple were having a loud row outside the pub at around 10.30am on August 2 last year.
Miss Sexton described drunken McDonough, who lived opposite, coming towards them “screaming and shouting his head off”.
Ms Smith said: “He said ‘if you get the police here now I’m going to f***ing kill you’.”
They told him to go back to bed and McDonough went home, but returned carrying a small axe.
The pair fled inside the pub as he ran towards them shouting that he was going to kill Mr Halpin.
The Waiting Room pub on Speke Road, Hunts Cross. Picture from Google
Ms Smith said McDonough twice swung the axe at a window, causing £800 to £1,000 of damage to the listed building.
They called police and an armed unit attended the scene with search dogs.
Officers entered the defendant’s home and found him hiding behind a fridge freezer.
He claimed Mr Halpin had threatened him first and told police the axe was in a gas cupboard.
Ms Smith said the victims were fearful of McDonough returning to the pub because of his “erratic behaviour”.
McDonough, now of Dunmow Way, Woolton, admitted criminal damage, affray and possession of an offensive weapon.
He was previously locked up for three years for wounding, after stabbing a man in his stomach during a drinking session.
Ms Smith said: “The defendant came at the victim with a bottle and a knife. He was stabbed twice.
“His response when arrested was ‘if I did do it, I must have been threatened’.”
Frank Dillon, defending, said his client was “deeply sorry”.
John McDonough aged 21 leaves Liverpool Crown Court.
He said McDonough was unable to control his temper after becoming annoyed by the noise outside his home.
Mr Dillon said: “He was heavily under the influence of drink with the poisonous additive of cocaine. He had been drinking for a period in excess of 12 hours.
“The drink and drugs had worn off to the extent that he was feeling tired and irritable.”
Mr Dillon said McDonough was a builder who was struggling financially and “sofa surfing” at the time, but when sober could contribute to society.
The court heard the defendant had already served six months on remand in custody.
Judge Elizabeth Nicholls said McDonough could easily have caused serious harm to his victims.
She said: “There is no doubt they were being noisy, but you decided rather than to ignore them to go and confront them.
“You behaved in a completely irrational, erratic and terrifying way.”
However, she said he needed help to address his problems, adding: “When sober you’re a decent individual with a lot to offer.”
Judge Nicholls handed him 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, and a four-month home curfew.
She told him to attend a rehabilitation activity and Resolve programme and made a three-year restraining order, preventing him from contacting his victims or going to the pub.
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Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/