Pipelayer Darren Manning faces a prison sentence after holding a knife to a man's throat and threatening to scar a barmaid.

Manning, 32, of Bath Street, Abingdon, walked into the Old Anchor pub at St Helen's Wharf in the town and made threats after grabbing assistant pub manager Richard Faulkner around the neck.

After a jury at Oxford Crown Court found him guilty of two charges, Judge Anthony King adjourned the case for reports and said he was considering a prison sentence.

The incident took place in January, a month after Manning's girlfriend, Clare Baker, was with him in the pub and bought drinks using two £20 notes.

Nicholas Syfret, prosecuting, said barmaid Natalie Chalmers noticed the serial numbers on both notes were the same and called the police. Miss Baker was arrested and questioned.

A forgery case against her was eventually dropped but on January 8 Manning had gone to the pub and asked for Mr Faulkner.

Miss Chalmers said: "He started shouting at him. He said 'Where's that Natalie, I'm going to scar her for life'. He pulled out a knife and put it to his throat."

Manning denied saying he would scar Miss Chalmers but said he had head-butted Mr Faulkner because he had been barred from the pub.

Manning was found guilty of intimidating a witness and carrying a sharp instrument. He denied both charges but admitted common assault.

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