A MAN who ran amok brandishing a meat cleaver following a pal's disagreement with doormen has walked free from court.

Charlie Ricaud was drunk when he armed himself with the weapon as a female friend was having discussions with the bouncers after she was denied access to a club.

But after ruling the incident was out of character for the 23-year-old a judge imposed a community order.

Claire Marlow, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how the incident took place on the night of Saturday November 21, into the following morning.

She said the woman had been meeting a doorman from The Beach club and another pub to discuss whether she was banned from the establishments.

She said the two bouncers met up with her in the Sainsbury's car park on British Row when they became aware of a man coming round the corner brandishing the weapon.

"Mr Ricaud said it was by his side but the witnesses describe him as waving it. Once said he was in fear of his life because of the weapon," she said.

"He further describes the defendant was walking backwards and forwards waving it about. He said he thought it was a case of him saying 'I have got this, get back', rather than waving it at someone."

She said much of the incident was caught on the supermarket's CCTV cameras and at one point he is seen waving the cleaver above his head.

By the time the police arrived she said he had left the scene and was arrested in a flat nearby, but the knife was never found.

It was also found that in the minutes after the incident Ricaud had posted a message on Facebook.

"It was a picture of the defendant with a meat cleaver with it was what can only be described as a threat," she said.

When he was questioned he said he and some friend had drunk a litre and a half of cognac in a couple of hours and he could remember little of the night.

He said he could not recall having the weapon or posting the Facebook message but accepted it was him on the CCTV.

Ricaud, of Back Street, Trowbridge, admitted threatening behaviour and possessing a bladed article.

He was not represented by a lawyer after repeatedly failing to secure legal aid, despite saying he was on benefits.

Recorder Richard Smith QC said he could sentence him without one as he was prepared to follow the recommendation of the pre-sentence report.

He said: "You are a man of good character and it appears to me, as to the author of the report, that this was out of character.

"It seems many may take the conclusion that you should serve a period of custody. I am much assisted by the pre-sentence report."

He imposed a one-year community order with 60 hours of unpaid work, 13 days of rehabilitation and a resolve programme.