AN arm-wrestling match in a Leominster nightclub led to one of the combatants later swinging an 18-inch long adjustable wrench at his opponent in the street outside, a court heard.

Building worker Michael Warner, aged 26, also headbutted the kitchen door at Sparky’s Cafe, knocking it off its hinges, Worcester Crown Court was told.

After being thrown out of the club, he fetched the wrench from his car and ran at Marcin Kaczmarek, swinging it at his head but missing.

As door staff got everyone else inside and locked them in, Warner picked up a wooden plank with nails sticking out and attacked the door and window, said Paul Cook, prosecuting.

He also attacked the front door of the Just For You shop next door and two potted, mature bay trees, causing a total of £2,000 to £3,000 damage.

Warner, of Hamlet Close, Ludlow, admitted having the wrench as a weapon, using threatening words and behaviour and two allegations of damaging property.

Judge Robert Juckes QC gave him an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered Warner to do do 150 hours unpaid work in the community.

Warner was also ordered to do 30 days of rehabilitation activities and to pay £535 court costs.

Mr Cook said that earlier in the evening Warner had been arm wrestling with Mr Kaczmarek and he then launched himself at the other man and headbutted the kitchen door.

Dean Easthope, defending, said that his client got the wrench from his car following “posturing by the Polish gentleman” – Mr Kaczmarek – in the street.

He said it had been “stupid behaviour” when his client was drunk.

Judge Juckes said it must have come as a “real shock” to Warner when he saw his “extraordinary” behaviour on CCTV footage.

“It’s a blessing that no-one was injured,” added the judge.

“When you swung that wrench with full force it could easily have made contact and you would have had to live with that for the rest of your life – and he would have had to live with his injuries.”