A BIN lorry had to be reversed at top speed up a street as refuse collectors tried to escape from a man who had ripped off the vehicle's windscreen wiper and was threatening to fight them.

In an incident which his own solicitor described as 'ridiculous', Mark McDonagh, 37, threatened the refuse collectors, thought one of them had threatened to slit his throat, and armed himself with bricks and sticks before the bin lorry rapidly left his street.

He pleaded guilty to criminal damage and threatening behaviour when he appeared before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe yesterday.

Emma Cruickshank, prosecuting, said: "The defendant came out and started shouting to the refuse collectors.

"He was seen by the victim to pull at the windscreen wiper of the bin wagon and was acting in an aggressive and intimidating manner. The driver of the wagon managed to reverse down the street and away."

McDonagh is said to have asked the refuse collector victim: "Where is the blonde lad from Sacriston as I am about to smash his face in."

Miss Cruickshank added: "A few minutes later he returned with a stick and two bricks in his hands. The victim told his colleagues to get in the wagon and go back up the street and the male threw the stick at the van.

"McDonagh then opened the passenger door of the wagon and said 'come on then, do you want a go'.

"The victim said 'noone wants a go' and McDonagh said 'did you say were going to slit my throat?"

Adam Scott, defending, said McDonagh had a 'history' with another bin collector but admitted he had displayed 'ridiculous behaviour'.

He said the defendant had held the bricks in front of the wagon, but dropped them, realising he had made a bad decision, and had 'acted in an unpleasant manner' towards the refuse collectors.

A probation report detailed his previous anger management issues and said Scott claimed he had been 'provoked' by a man saying he was going to cut his throat, and that there was a 'history between himself and another man who was a refuse collector.

And Mr Scott added: "It was certainly impulsive behaviour, it hadn't been planned.

"It was ridiculous and was a ridiculous way to behave.

"He has accepted he needs some anger management help.

"He did say some words but he backed away from using any physical violence at all."

Chairman of the bench Mrs Howarth said: "The bench consider this offence to be very serious, particularly because it was a member of staff doing a public service.

"It is totally unacceptable."

She sentenced him to an 18-month community order which will include anger management.

He was also ordered to pay £174 compensation for the broken windscreen wiper, £500 costs and and £85 victim surcharge.