A MAN who was kicked out of a Barry pub only to return armed with two large kitchen knives, was tackled to the ground and restrained by a heroic passerby - Cardiff Crown Court heard.

In the early hours of Sunday, May 25 Vincent John Davies had been ejected from the The Witchill Hotel, Barry Road for being "obnoxious" and "abusive" to fellow drinkers and bar staff.

At Cardiff Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday, July 22) Recorder David Aubrey heard that Davies, 42, was extremely drunk and continued to be abusive when landlord Mark Royle decided to force him out.

Prosecutor Susan Ferrier told the court that attempts were made by fellow drinkers to calm Davies down.

She said: "But he didn't calm down. He was seen going into a relative's house on Davies Street.

"The landlord then saw the defendant emerge from the house carrying large kitchen knives. The landlord thought he was going to slash the tyres on his vehicle."

With Davies, a father of two, stood in the street brandishing knives and shouting "You're all going to kill me", a man who had just left the Witchill to go home decided to tackle him to the ground as he passed by.

Paul Lloyd bravely rugby tackled Davies to the ground, holding him down before another man helped restrain him.

During the struggle Mr Lloyd suffered a cut to his ear, caused by the knife.

Recorder David Aubrey told Davies - who says he can't remember the incident - that it was lucky Mr Lloyd only suffered a minor injury.

"You lashed out with with the knife and cut his ear," he said. "You know that could have been so much more serious. You could have killed him."

Davies - who has 29 previous convictions for offences such as possession of a blade, criminal damage and assault - avoided a jail sentence after pleading guilty to actual bodily harm and two offences of possessing a blade.

Handing Davies an eight month sentence, suspended for two years, Mr Aubrey said: "The way you chose to behave that night is wholly unacceptable and dangerous.

"I accept that your intention was not to cause injury with the knives but to cause damage to the landlord's car.

"Anyone who goes into the street armed with knives commits a serious offence. It's a very grave matter."

Davies was also ordered to be under curfew for two months, to carry out 150 hours unpaid work and to pay a £900 and £500 compensation to Mr Lloyd.

Mr Aubrey said: "He acted in a public spirited and courageous way. There is no reason why he shouldn't be compensated for the injury he received."