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A BEVERLEY who was he was badily beaten up in the Barrel Inn at Walkington later threatened to kill the landlord, a court heard.

Glen Gibson, 43, repeatedly visited Graham Ruston to ask him why no one in the pub had seen the attack, which led to him being hospitalised for two weeks with a broken ankle after a New Year’s Eve fight, Hull Crown Court was told.

After being told by the police they had nothing to work on, Gibson returned to the pub to see Mr Ruston.

When he didn’t like the answer that no one had seen the incident, he told Mr Ruston as he was leaving: “The lads are going to come down and sort this pub out.”

Gibson then went to the home of his friend Darren East, in Beverley, were he drank heavily before deciding to go back to The Barrel, this time armed with a 20cm-long kitchen knife in his waistband.

Gibson claimed the knife was for his own protection on April 21.

“He challenged Mr Ruston to tell him who had assaulted him again, and then appeared to drop money on the floor. As he bent to pick it up Mr Ruston saw the knife and went around the bar to take it, calling Gibson a “silly idiot” said Crown barrister Simon Hirst.

“Gibson was then heard to say to Mr Ruston: “I have come to kill you.” This was recorded by a witness, Mr Ruston’s nephew. When the police arrived he told them: “I am going to kill him.”

Gibson has two convictions for assault, one for public disorder and he went to prison for witness intimidation after a shop break-in by men with balaclavas.

Gibson, of Burgess Court, Beverley, pleaded guilty to one charge of making threats to kill and one of possession of bladed article when he appeared for sentence on Monday May 20.

Defence barrister Ian Philip said Gibson spent two weeks in hospital after he was set on in The Barrel on New Year’s Eve and suffered a broken ankle which left him with a permanent injury. “Although the pub was full, no one saw anything including the landlord,” said Mr Philip. “He thought this was an incredible position for the landlord and everyone else in the pub to have had. In his own mind he wanted to know why the landlord had not assisted in helping find those who assaulted him. He accepts that was a stupid thing to do.”

Recorder Gary Cook told Gibson the reason why the landlord and others never saw anything was probably because the pub was full. “You were in drink and returned to the pub with a kitchen knife,” said Recorder Cook. “The landlord didn’t seem unduly concerned when he removed the knife from you. It is then you threatened to kill him.”

He gave Gibson and 18-month community order and six-month curfew 7pm-7am. He also gave Gibson a restraining order preventing him from going within 100metres of Graham Ruston.