A MAN who threatened door staff with a chisel after trying to get into a nightclub without paying has been spared jail as troublemakers are warned they will not be tolerated in Bolton town centre.

Bolton Crown Court heard that Darren Davis attempted to sneak into Level nightclub, in Nelson Square, by using a staff entrance on April 15 this year.

But Zoe Dawson, prosecuting, said that when the 25-year-old, of Rogerstead, Deane, was confronted by a doorman he became ‘hostile and abusive’.

And as he moved back towards the main entrance of the club door, staff spotted him waving and making stabbing motions with what they initially thought was a knife.

When interviewed by police Davis, who has a number of public order convictions, said he was frustrated as he had been insulted by a doorman and had begun carrying a chisel for self-protection after being attacked in the past.

Matthew Howarth, defending, told the court Davis was ‘characterised’ by his mental health problems, including ADHD and a personality disorder.

Judge Timothy Stead sentenced him to 12 months in prison for possession of an offensive weapon and affray but suspended the sentence for two years.

He told Davis: “You have been before the court several times before for public order offences including, as we have heard, jumping on tables and that sort of thing. It won’t do. You will understand it upsets people and frightens them as well.

“I understand you have had a very difficult upbringing, you are quite a damaged individual in many ways, but you must understand that if you commit serious crimes, that won’t save you.”

Davis apologised to the court and thanked Judge Stead for sparing him jail.

Bolton's night time economy has been the subject of debate since town centre nightclub McCauley's lost its licence after a mass brawl outside the venue last month.

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But Cllr Derek Burrows, member for community safety said he does not believe the town centre has a problem.

“In any town centre there will be incidents," he said.

“We’ve got a town centre cinema and we want the town centre economy to be for families too.

“Everyone is welcome to come to Bolton but we don’t want people causing trouble.

“I’m sure that the police are aware of the situation in the town centre.

“People are more than welcome to enjoy a night out in Bolton. If they are going to cause trouble they are not welcome and we will not tolerate it.”

Last week McCauley's was labelled ‘unsafe and unmanageable’ during a meeting of the Bolton Council licensing sub-committee.

Steve Hoyle, manager at Oscars in Nelson Square, said that police cuts, and a lack of officers in the town centre makes the situation difficult for door staff.

He said: “The problem we have got is the lack of policing. We have got door staff that are doing a job but once they get them out into the street there’s nothing they can do.

“The bars are doing their best but they are limited in what they can do. I can’t speak for everyone but I know there are a lot of bars doing their best to clean the town up.”

He suggested that a solution may be to amend licences so that bars can not open so late so preventing people from drinking to excess.