A drinker celebrating his birthday in a popular Port St Mary pub went berserk with a bar stool when told by the landlord to leave.

Douglas magistrates heard Simon James Cowle was spotted in the Albert pub on New Year’s day, his 44th birthday, with a group of friends, in contravention of a pub ban.

For the prosecution, Michael Jelski said the pub’s landlady first noticed Cowle at about 11pm and, realising he was on the local pub watch banned list got her husband to speak to him.

Mr Jelski said the landlord stood a little away from the group, to avoid seeming overbearing, and pointed out Cowle was on the banned list and should leave.

The request seemed to prompt such an outpouring of anger and hatred, staff were asked to call the police.

’The defendant then stood up and came at him with his chest puffed out,’ Mr Jeslki said.

’He picked up a bar stool and the landlord thought he was about to be hit with it.’

Cowle started ’kicking and screaming and going ballistic’ Mr Jelski said, and one witness was heard to say: ’Jesus he’s going to hit Pat (the licensee).’

A scene of general mayhem unfolded, as Cowle’s friends tried to restrain him and prise the stool from his grasp.

Eventually they managed to manhandle the defendant to the back door, but found it was locked. Cowle then had to be restrained on the ground while a key was found and the door opened.

Cowle, of Park Road, Port St Mary, later told police he was restrained to the ground with no explanation. He said he had reacted reasonably, he denied raising a stool and said it was unnecessary to restrain him.

He admitted one charge of using disorderly behaviour on licensed premises.

Magistrates’ chairman Julian Ashcroft adjourned the case for an all options report. Cowle was bailed to his home address to reappear on June 22.