A bar tender who admitted threatening a man with an extendable baton was given a conditional discharge in Magistrates’ Court this morning.

Joseph Weller, 52, of Ord Road, Paget, was involved in an argument while tending bar at Casey’s on Queen Street, the court heard.

Mr Weller said he feared he may later be attacked by the man after he finished work, and carried a baton — normally kept behind the bar — when he began walking home.

He then found himself in an altercation with another person on Church Street and instinctively pulled out the baton to defend himself, Mr Weller told Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner.

Mr Warner asked Mr Weller if he had attended the TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures) bar tender training course. Mr Weller said he had.

“Did that help you to understand the management and control of a bar and its patrons?” Mr Warner asked. Mr Weller said the training did.

Mr Warner gave Mr Weller 12 months probation and dismissed the charges under the condition Mr Weller re-attend TIPS training.

“Perhaps if you take that course again it may help you to understand the limits,” said Mr Warner.