A LICENSEE believed he was “fighting for his life” when threatened at knifepoint by a barred former club 'regular', a court was told.

Michael Walsh spotted Vincent Watson sitting on a fence outside the Leather Cap Sports and Social Club, in Easington Colliery, County Durham, as he was leaving with the takings late on July 5.

Durham Crown Court heard that earlier that day Mr Walsh told Watson he was barred from the premises due to his increasingly disruptive behaviour.

Jane Waugh prosecuting, said it was after Watson made offensive remarks, threats and gestures to Mr Walsh’s wife, Anne, when she asked him to leave the Browning Street club the previous evening.

Miss Waugh said that on seeing Watson sitting looking in his direction, at 11.45pm on July 5, Mr Walsh, “assumed he wasn’t there for innocent purposes.”

He threw the takings into his car, but he was approached by Watson, who appeared to be foaming at the mouth.

Miss Waugh said Watson threatened to kill Mr Walsh and then held a knife to his throat.

“Believing he was fighting for his life the landlord grabbed the knife and struggled with the defendant, eventually disarming and overpowering him.”

In the melee Mr Walsh suffered a small laceration to the cheek which was treated with steri-strips.

Watson was arrested and interviewed, but made no comment when interviewed.

He was released on bail and turned up outside the club taking photographs of the premises several nights later, stating that it was, “going to burn”.

Watson said he would send the images to South Shields, implying that someone he knew there would come and set fire to the club.

Miss Waugh said when he was again arrested he said he had done nothing wrong, as he had only taken photos.

But, appearing at a recent plea hearing, 50-year-old Watson, of Ascot Street, Easington Colliery, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, possessing an offensive weapon and threatening to damage property.

David Lamb, mitigating, said while Watson was aware he was facing a prison sentence, he had suffered an element of “summary justice”.

“That’s what happens when this defendant, in a drunken state, decides to take on a much bigger man, who was sober, and who, no doubt, reacted to the situation.”

The court heard Watson moved into the village and started to regularly visit the club, initially without problem, but becoming increasingly disruptive to the point where he was barred.

Mr Lamb added that Watson he has set about seeking help to overcome his long-standing drink problem while in custody, since July.

Jailing him for a total of three-years-and-six months, Judge Simon Hickey said each incident involving Watson merited a custodial sentence in their own right.