A 36-year-old man who waved a twelve-inch lump hammer when he turned up at a school Halloween disco denied on Thursday that he intended to harm anyone.

Stephen Griffiths, a Yodel driver of Plas Road, Rhyl was cleared after pleading not guilty to having the hammer and posing “a serious risk of physical harm”.

However magistrates at Llandudno on Thursday found him guilty of possessing a weapon on school premises.

He was given unconditional bail to await an all-options pre-sentence report from the probation service.

Julia Galston, prosecuting, alleged that Griffiths had stated he wanted to mete out “some tough love.” He had been escorted from the school by a senior teacher.

Giving evidence Griffiths accepted he “made a stupid mistake” in having the hammer but explained that he feared being attacked because of a dispute. “I never intended to use the hammer,” he declared.

He told his solicitor Mr Robert Vickery : “I was very scared.” Griffiths, in a wheelchair, said that since the incident he’d lost the use of his legs and become hoarse due to anxiety and depression.

Mr Vickery told the court: “Apart from holding the hammer in front of him he didn’t do anything. He didn’t intend to cause serious harm or injury .”