Jobless John Chitty, 65, had downed four to six pints during the afternoon drinking session when staff became worried about his unaccompanied rucksack.
Chitty, of Mason Close, Hampton, Richmond-upon-Thames was convicted of assaulting Joseph Clipsham at the William Webb Ellis pub in London Road, Twickenham on July 10, last year.
Prosecutor Sudara Weerasena told Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court: “Mr Chitty’s blue rucksack was unattended and the bar manager wanted to keep it for safekeeping.
“The defendant asked: ‘What? Do you think I’ve got a bomb in my bag?’ and made a loud: ‘Bang, bang,’ sound.”
Chitty pretended to throw the rucksack at the bar manager, shouting: “It’s a bomb!”
The bar manager ordered Chitty out of the pub, but he reacted violently. “He put his hands around the throat of the victim in a strangling motion,” added Ms Weerasena.
“He grabbed the bar manager my the neck and other staff and customers took him to the floor to restrain him.”
Chitty fought the charge, claiming he simply reacted to the bar manager spitting at him and intends to appeal.
His lawyer Ms Caroline Reeve said: “His previous convictions are of no relevance and this was a one-off incident.
“Mr Chitty simply does not accept he was responsible for any assault and maintains the manager spat art him and he pushed him away, fearing Covid.
“He had drunk four pints of lager on this occasion and alcohol may have effected his actions that day.
“He lives a quiet lifestyle and has several medical complaints, including diabetes, mobility issues and has stents in his heart.”
Magistrate Vanessa Weguelin told Chitty: “The court takes a serious view of someone who goes into a pub and having consumed four to six pints of lager behaves in a thoroughly reprehensible manner by claiming your bag had a bomb in it.
“That is not the way to behave in public and then you put your hands around Mr Clipsham’s neck.”
Chitty was placed on a twelve-month Community Order, which includes an electronically-tagged two-month home curfew between 6pm and 6am.
He was also ordered to pay £200 compensation to the bar manager, plus £350 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.
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