Bottle shop worker opens can of hurt on unruly customer

An unruly customer got more than he bargained for when he became aggressive towards a man working in a Victoria bottle shop, who swiftly dispatched him with a baseball bat.

Video footage of the incident, which happened over a year ago, has been posted online, allegedly after the matter was settled in court.

The video shows Ray Thomas, working behind the bottle shop counter at Geelong's Lord Nelson Tavern.

Staff member Ben Crafter, who is believed to have uploaded the video, says the customer was drunk and upset when Mr Thomas refused to serve him.

The man then makes his way behind the counter, prompting Mr Thomas to give him a push on the arm; the man responds by shoving Mr Thomas in the chest.

Mr Thomas then retrieves a baseball bat from under the counter and gives the interloper whack on the upper left arm.

The would-be-customer then attacks Mr Thomas, and the pair cross the shop floor as they struggle, knocking several bottles off the shelves.

Mr Thomas manages to sidestep as his attacker attempts to barge him, and lands a heavy blow to the man's back with the bat as he stumbles past, knocking him to the ground.

Mr Thomas can be seen standing over the man's immobile body and giving him a spray as a pair of other customers arrive to see what the fuss is about.

According to the caption posted with the video online, the allegedly-drunken punter was charged by police and made to pay $550 to cover the smashed goods.

Staff at Lord Nelson Tavern declined to comment in detail but say the incident was fully resolved and has become something of a joke around the pub.

Mr Thomas continues to work at the establishment.