A ‘highly intoxicated’ man who threatened to knock a club doorman out with one punch has been banned from all city centre on licences premises for a year.
Steven Owen, of Council Street in Llay, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon.
The 35-year-old admitted one offence of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour in Wrexham, which took place on March 27 this year.
Prosecutor Huw Evans told the court that on the evening in question, Owen was in the city centre and was “highly intoxicated.”
Police were notified by council CCTV operators that he was attempting to gain entry to the One to Five venue but had been turned away numerous times due to his level of intoxication.
Officers were asked to attend and “send him home,” but before they could get there Owen became abusive.
He took a particular dislike to one member of the door staff, telling him: “Do you want a fight? I’m going to put you to sleep with one punch.”
Owen was “jumping up and down with fists clenched” as if he was preparing to fight.
Eventually, when he was told by a member of the public to move on, he pulled back his right hand and propelled it forwards towards that member of the public, trying to punch them.
Luckily, it made no contact and door staff then intervened, restraining Owen until police arrived.
Following his arrest, Owen made “continuous” threats to harm officers whilst on the way to custody.
Mr Evans told the court the defendant had seven previous convictions for 11 offences; including one of being drunk and disorderly in September last year, for which he received a 24 month conditional discharge.
The latest offending put him in breach of that order.
Elzbeth Kenny, defending, told the court her client was a father-of-two who had “accepted responsibility for his involvement” in the matter.
“He agrees with the prosecution case,” she said.
“You may note that summary justice was dispensed at the scene.
“The defendant had his arm twisted up his back to such an extent by the door supervisor that he had to be hospitalised when taken into custody.
“They also smashed his brand new mobile phone.
“The offence arose in the context of drinking to excess – it wasn’t targeted or pre-meditated.
“He wishes the court to know he is deeply ashamed of his behaviour.”
Ms Kenny told the court her client, a qualified civil engineer, works as a team leader for an international company which specialises in tunnelling and pipelines.
The Magistrates handed down a 12 month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work and a prohibited activity requirement preventing him from attending any on licenced premises in Wrexham City Centre for the duration of the order.
No action was taken on the breached conditional discharge, but the defendant must pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.
Source – The Leader
