Builder jailed for two years after waving revved-up chainsaw in crowded bar

A construction worker who waved a revved-up power saw at pub-goers during a terrifying revenge attack in a crowded bar has been jailed for two years.

Andrew Dicken, 37, burst into the pub and shouted ‘I’ve got a chainsaw’ before threatening regulars around a lounge area.

Mobile phone footage captured Dicken as he climbed a flight of stairs at the Bulls Head bar in Sale, Greater Manchester before repeatedly revving up the saw and forcing screaming men and women to dive for cover.

Dicken had drunk one pint of beer before the attack and later threatened to blow up his ex-girlfriend’s home with her and her children inside.

One pub regular had to jump out of the way as Dicken brought the saw down on a wooden table full of glasses. 

He was eventually driven out of the bar and he dumped the saw at the entrance to the pub before damaging a fence while driving away.

Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester heard the incident on February 9 last year occurred after Dicken, from Sale, claimed he was beaten up in the car park of the pub.

Prosecutor Suzanne Hargreaves said: ‘At 12:30am, the landlord saw him leave, then he came back and he shouted that he had a chainsaw, and he saw him with the saw coming into the pub while a number of people were trying to stop him.  

‘This was an absolutely terrifying incident which took place in a pub where a number of people present.

‘This is a really serious disorder where serious alarm and distress were caused.’

The court heard how later that same day in an unrelated attack Dicken threatened to blow up his ex-girlfriend’s home with her and her children inside and vandalised her Mercedes car causing £800 damage.

Miss Hargreaves said: ‘She got a phone call from him accusing her of having an affair and saying he wanted his belongings.

‘He also messaged her saying “I will rip your door off and batter you and the kids”.’ 

She then looked outside her home and saw him punching the windscreen of her car and she started screaming to her daughter to get his belongings together. 

One pub regular had to jump out of the way as Dicken brought the saw down on a wooden table full of glasses.

The judge said: ‘As someone who uses power tools for a living, you should know how dangerous your actions could have been’

The defendant went to drive away but said he would be back to blow the house up with her and the children inside. He then reversed back and damaged her car. 

The court heard Dicken who admitted affray, possession of an offensive weapon, criminal damage and making threatening communications.

He had been subject to a suspended sentence for burglary at the time of the incidents. 

Defence lawyer Robert Mann said: ‘He was at the pub with an old friend and he exchanged words with another group of males and females. What happened is that this large group of males followed him into the car park and he was assaulted there.

‘He then dusted himself off and opened the boot of his vehicle, where his work tools are, and the first thing he noticed was this saw. 

‘He then went into the pub and was waving it towards these men. He didn’t think about the terrifying effect it would have on the other customers. He just wanted to scare this group. 

Passing sentence Judge Angela Nield told Dicken: ‘Your entry into that pub clearly terrified a number of individuals, in particular the females who were present. 

‘It was clearly a blade, but an operational blade moving at speed and it’s a miracle that nobody was hurt.

‘This was a serious loss of control. As someone who uses power tools for a living, you should know how dangerous your actions could have been.’