A grandad has confessed that he suspects spiking may have driven his "disgraceful behaviour" at a pub. Kyle Williams flew into a rancorous frenzy, gripped by the baseless suspicion that his car keys had been nabbed. In an escalated fury, he later returned to the establishment armed with a hammer, proceeded to shatter a window and menaced patrons with the tool. When law enforcement arrived at his doorstep, it took a tasing to subdue the unruly thug.

This Monday afternoon, Liverpool Crown Court was briefed on the events of March 15 this year, when Williams transgressed into hostility during a family evening at the Rose and Crown pub in Wallasey, Wirral. Around midnight, the 37-year-old from Bishop Road became "argumentative and aggressive", believing his car keys had been pilfered.

Prosecutor Hannah Darling detailed how the pub's landlady attempted to quell his outburst to no avail, leading two regulars to step in. Williams snapped at them, "who are you threatening?" before storming off.

Resurfacing shortly after, the defendant shattered the pub's window with a claw hammer. He then burst into the venue wielding the weapon, followed closely by his 13-year-old son clutching a knife, and bellowed, "No one threatens me", reports Liverpool Echo.

His tirade sent some patrons fleeing in terror while a few brave souls intervened once more. Williams reiterated his threat, "no one threatens me" fractured another glass panel in a door, and retreated from the scene yet again.

Police officers arrived at his home, but he managed to slip out via a back exit before they caught up with him on Mostyn Street and had to use a Taser to apprehend him.

His history of run-ins with the law includes 13 prior convictions encompassing 28 offences. Notably, in 2019, he received a community order for carrying an offensive weapon in public.

The defendant's lawyer, John Rowan, addressed the court, saying: "He has now been in custody for some 28 days.

"He is not a stranger to custody, but his last sentence of imprisonment was some 17 years ago. He has been in stable accommodation for some time and is in long-term employment, which is still open to him.

"He is a father-of-three and he is a grandfather to one. He is a far cry from the 20-year-old who went to prison for drug and driving offences. The past few weeks have been sobering for him. He has had time to reflect on how he behaved that night. He fully accepts that his behaviour was disgraceful.

"What happened that evening is something he cannot get his head around. That is not the man he perceived himself to be. While he has previous convictions, none of them are for violence.

"He maintains that he might have been spiked by an individual in the pub. He became paranoid. He became irrational. He believed that individuals had taken the keys to his car, which was parked outside.

"He wants it known how ashamed he is. He wants to apologise to each and every person who was affected by his actions. He is particularly ashamed that his 13-year-old son became embroiled in this incident. It was a complete dereliction of his duties as a father.

"Mr Williams has demonstrated that he can stay away from offending. He does have physical issues concerning his foot and some mental health issues. There has been previous suicidal ideation."

Williams confessed to making threats with an offensive weapon and criminal damage. Appearing via video link from HMP Liverpool, clad in a black Mountain Equipment coat over a red Montirex tracksuit top, he visibly deflated, bowing his head and rubbing his eyes with his right hand as he received a 14-month suspended sentence for two years.

In sentencing, Recorder Richard Pratt KC stated: "On that night, no doubt fuelled by drink, you behaved outrageously. You were threatening and abusive to people who you thought, wrongly, had stolen your keys and, much worse, you returned having armed yourself with a hammer.

"It is a significant aggravating feature that, at that time, you were accompanied by your 13-year-old son, who also had with him a knife. While you have previous convictions, it is clear to me that what happened on this night was outside of your normal character."

The judge addressed Williams in court, highlighting the rationale behind the sentence, stating: "If I were to impose an immediate custodial sentence then the period you would be spending in custody would be a matter of months, whereas I can impose a suspended period of imprisonment with requirements which will hang over you for considerably longer. I believe it is not only appropriate for you, it is appropriate for the community at large."

Addressing Williams' conduct, the judge added sternly: "You behaved outrageously on that night. I strongly urge you to take this chance. I doubt very much that this chance will be offered to you again."

In addition to the suspended sentence, Williams was ordered to accomplish 100 hours of unpaid work and to engage in up to 30 days of rehabilitation activity. He must fulfil a programme requirement and undergo a 120-day alcohol abstinence monitoring program.

At the close of the hearing, as Williams was leaving the court, one of his supporters in the public gallery commented, " See you later, Kyle."