A CHARD man who began shouting abuse at security staff after being thrown out of a town centre pub then pulled out a knife in the middle of the street.

Carlos Valter Francisco Antunes became involved in a disturbance inside The Phoenix Hotel and after becoming angry outside he produced the knife from his pocket.

Two friends who were with him pushed him against a van and after he dropped it on the ground they picked it up and handed it to the security guard.

When the police were called they were given a description of a man with a tattoo in the middle of his forehead, and after a struggle with Antunes they managed to arrest him.

The 52-year-old defendant pleaded not guilty to a charge that on March 31 he was in Fore Street while in possession of a bladed article, namely a lock knife.

He pleaded guilty to a further allegation that he was drunk and disorderly during the same incident.

The knife offence was adjourned for Antunes to stand trial before Somerset Magistrates, however on the day of the scheduled hearing he failed to turn up so the trial was held in his absence.

Prosecutor Ben Winzar said that David Gaylard was the security officer at the Phoenix Hotel and in the early hours of the morning an issue arose involving the defendant and he was ejected from the premises.

“He was standing outside shouting abuse towards the staff with two other males and he was then seen to pull something out of his pocket,” he said.

“His two friends pushed him against a van and he dropped the item on the floor and one of the other males picked up a kidney shaped lock knife with a four inch blade.

“He gave it to Mr Gaylard and the two males assisted Antunes away and a passing police car was flagged down by the pub staff.”

They were given a description of the defendant as having a tattoo in the centre of his forehead and officers found him and detained him and he made no comment during interview.

Giving evidence to the court at Yeovil, Mr Gaylard said that when the police went to arrest Antunes he became aggressive towards them but they took him to the ground and handcuffed him.

He was arrested for possession of a knife and being drunk and disorderly and pava spray had to be used on his face to get him to calm down.

After hearing the prosecution evidence against the defendant the magistrates found the case had been proved in his absence.

They issued a warrant for his arrest so he can be brought back before the court at Yeovil to be sentenced on a future date.