Trouble with a drunk man at the Star Inn at St Erth led to the licensee and his wife, plus a customer, being assaulted.

Eugene Evans, aged 70, of Trenhayle Lane, St Erth, pleaded guilty to assaulting Michael and Lisa Carter and Brian White and causing damage to a door handle.

Alison May, for the CPS, said Evans, who was banned, was shouting and swearing in the bar and refused to leave. He spat at Mr Carter after swearing at him and then went. But he came back, flinging open the door with such force it damaged the door handle to the value of £50.

Saying “you are all going to burn in hell” when he was challenged by Mr White, a customer, he grabbed him by his clothes and rammed him against the back of the bar. When Mrs Carter tried to get him to leave he pushed her and swept her aside with force, causing her to stumble and lose her balance.

He told the police afterwards: “I don’t know why I done it. I get possessed by the devil.”

Martin Pearce, his solicitor, said he suffered from bipolar disease and was on medication. He had gone into the pub, despite being banned, because he was dehydrated and wanted a glass of water. When he was told to leave things had flowed from there.

Evans was sent to prison for 12 weeks.