A drunk man who wielded a pickaxe outside a Watford pub garden whilst having a knife in his bag has been spared jail.

Arron Paisley was told his actions were “completely unacceptable” during a hearing at St Albans Crown Court on August 20.

The court heard that Paisley, 33, had been shouting at his former partner on April 23 whilst drunk as he had been upset.

He had then got a lift from her and she dropped him by a pub near Watford Junction Station.

Paisley then threw a beer bottle before taking a pickaxe out of his bag by the pub garden in the view of customers before putting it back in.

The court he had also been shouting.

Prosecutor Francis Gaskin said he was not targeting specific individuals but that the circumstances had caused “serious alarm and distress”.

An off-duty officer noticed Paisley with the pickaxe and alerted police.

Police soon stopped him and he was said to be drunk and uncooperative during his arrest.

Officers then found the pickaxe, a lock knife and another axe, as well as a small quantity of cannabis.

The court heard the other axe and knife were not taken out of his bag at any point although police were aware of them during their confrontation.

Paisley, of Eaton Close, Stanmore, pleaded guilty to being in possession of an axe, a pick axe, a knife, cannabis and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour, thereby causing a person or another harassment, alarm or distress.

He also has seven convictions for 12 other offences.

Alex Bennie, defending, said that Paisley is “apologetic and ashamed” of his actions that day and that he has had no alcohol since the incident.

He said Paisley had been caught with gardening items which he had gone to collect as he had been doing gardening in his mum’s garden.

He also said that Paisley accepts the behaviour towards his ex-girlfriend and read out a statement from her which said she had never known him to be aggressive.

The court was also told that Paisley, who has a daughter, is making weekly contributions to support her and is also in employment.

Bennie added that Paisley has been supporting his grandmother and that a friend who he saw as a role model had died.

Recorder Goodwin said his behaviour on the day was “completely unacceptable” and asked him to consider whether he would like his daughter to know that he could be going to prison.

She added that someone of his age “should know better” and told him he had “good sense” to plead guilty to the charges against him.

Instead of jailing him, Recorder Goodwin gave Paisley given four months suspended for 24 months, which will run concurrently for each offence.

He was also ordered to complete 50 hours of unpaid work and be subject to an alcohol abstinence monitoring programme for three months.

He must also attend 19 sessions of a thinking skills programme and pay £325 in prosecution costs.

A forfeiture and destruction order for the weapons and drugs was also made.