A WESTON man, who was evicted from a pub after saying he was going to kill his friend, threatened the landlord and his children before smashing the public house’s window.

Simon Howe, of Locking Road, appeared at North Somerset Courthouse on Monday to plead guilty to charges of criminal damage and possessing cannabis on March 3.

The 27-year-old was drinking in The Regency, in Lower Church Road, with a friend and at about 7.20pm the pair started an argument.

Prosecutor Jane Cooper said Howe’s friend grabbed the defendant by the throat and Howe then said he was going to kill him.

The landlord then stepped in and separated the men and led Howe to the rear of the pub.

She said: “The defendant was then in front of the pub and punched a small window and caused it to smash.

“The landlord and another customer restrained him and called the police. The defendant made some threats and said ‘I know where you and your kids are, wait a few months and you’re going to get it.’”

Howe was taken to the police station where he was restrained again because his behaviour was ‘erratic.’

Miss Cooper said: “He was then searched and police found a packet of green vegetable matter which they believed to be cannabis.

“During an interview he said while being evicted, the ‘big bloke’, who police presume to be the landlord, punched him and he went into a rage in front of the pub. He said his mind then went blank and said ‘I may have smashed the window but cannot remember anything.’”

Howe, representing himself in court, said: “I’m not trying to get around it and I’m sorry for what I did. I’m sorry it escalated.

“I’m sorry it happened there, I have been drinking there for years and have never had an issue.

“I do not do a lot of drugs. There is a lot going on in my personal life and with my anger I’m finding it hard to control and it’s just to take the edge off.”

Howe was ordered to pay £186 in compensation to The Regency and was fined £73 for criminal damage and £37 for possessing cannabis.

He was ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge but magistrates did not impose any court costs because of Howe’s ‘limited financial situation’.