A BARMAN at a Herefordshire pub grew concerned when one of his customers was seen with a knife as a football match was being shown on TV.

Lee Peplow watched 21-year-old Oliver Durden, who was swaying in the bar and appeared to be drunk, on Boxing Day.

At one stage, Worcester Crown Court heard, he produced a lock-knife with a two-inch blade.

Tim Sapwell, prosecuting, said Mr Peplow and another customer grabbed Durden and took him outside the Kings Arms in Bromyard and restrained him until police arrived.

He said he had personal problems and was emotionally upset following the death of his grandfather.

Durden, of Acreage, Whitbourne, who pleaded guilty to having a bladed article in a public place, was given a 12-month community order with a requirement for alcohol treatment. He was ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work and pay £200 costs.

Charles Hamer, mitigating, said the death of his grandfather in November had affected Durden and he had threatened self-harm.

He now helped to look after his grandmother and had a job in the newsagents run by his mother.

Judge Michael Cullum said the exposure of the knife blade in the pub could have caused someone to be hurt.

He said Durden’s emotional suffering had been accentuated by his drinking.