A DRUNK customer threatened to decapitate the landlord of his local village pub in the middle of the night.

Darryl Heale had been drinking in the Old Malt Scoop pub in Lapford all day when he returned at 3am one morning in May and kicked in the front windows.

Exeter magistrates court heard the 22-year-old threatened to decapitate the landlord and his family and also said he “would break their necks”.

Landlord Jonathan and his wife Catriona Willatt and their two teenage children were so terrified that they got in their car and fled the inn.

Police were called and Heale, who lives in the village, was still outside the pub smashing more windows.

The publicans said the incident had left them feeling “scared and vulnerable” and questioning whether they should stay in the trade.

The court heard the Willatt’s had a problem with Heale’s father six to eight weeks earlier when he was drunk at the bar and they refused to serve him.

Caroline Salvatore, defending, said Heale had been drinking all day and had no recollection of what he did.

She said Heale had no issues with the publicans and said it was a “one off” following the break up of his relationship and children, and being injured at work and losing his job.

Heale, now working at a dairy farm, admitted causing £4,452 damage to the windows - and costing the landlord £4,000 in lost takings - and using threatening behaviour.

Heale, who has no previous convictions, was given a 12-month community order with an alcohol treatment order, 150 hours unpaid work and £400 compensation to the Willatt’s for the “emotional upset and distress”.

Court Reporter