A MAN became aggressive when a shift manager at a pub asked him to leave the premises due to his drunken behaviour, a court heard.

Nathan Houghin, 46, turned to drinking alcohol at the Ferry Hotel on Walney on May 7 last year after discovering two of his friends had taken their own lives in close succession, prosecutors said.

Megan Horner told Preston Crown Court the complainant was working his first shift at the establishment when he noticed Houghin arguing with two customers at the bar.

Ms Horner told the court the defendant was ‘getting loud, agitated and aggressive’ as he gesticulated to the customers that they should go outside for a fight.

At this point, the complainant attempted to de-escalate the situation by asking the defendant to keep quiet, the court heard.

Ms Horner described how the defendant’s demeanour changed from being friendly to all of a sudden being very aggressive.

The court heard the complainant was forced to escort Houghin to the front door after he banged his hands down on a table and threatened to flip it over.

In an aggressive manner, the defendant said: ‘Come on, I will take you all on’, the court heard.

He then threatened the worker with violence by using derogatory words and slandered his Greek nationality.

The court was told police arrived at 10:30pm to find the defendant very drunk and slurring his words. He was then obstructive towards officers before being transported to Barrow custody.

The complainant described how the incident had caused him to feel 'humiliated'.

He told officers he now 'dreads' going to work and that he feels ‘unwelcome’ in this country.

He further told the police that he is proud to be Greek and that he does not expect to be called derogatory names.  

In mitigation, Charles Brown said his client did not cause any actual violence or inflict any criminal damage.

Mr Brown said: “He behaved in this fashion on that evening because he had suffered the loss from suicide of two friends within days of one another.

“As a result, he turned to alcohol. He sincerely regrets his actions and wishes to apologise through me.

“He has learnt from his mistake and is eager to seek the help of the probation service in addressing his drinking problem.”

The court heard Houghin, of Ramsgate Crescent in Barrow, was subject to a previously imposed community order at the time of the offence.

Sentencing Houghin to a 12-month community order after pleading guilty to a Section 4 Public Order Act offence, Recorder Peter Atherton said: “This was clearly a disturbing incident.

"It was clearly very offensive to someone going about their lawful business.

“You do not seem to have learnt your lesson in properly addressing your alcohol addiction.

"You are going to have to address that, or you will find yourself back before the court on other occasions.”

Houghin was required to complete 20 rehabilitation requirement days and a six-month alcohol treatment requirement as part of the order.

No order for costs or compensation was made.