A man hit a pub doorman in the face with a bottle after he was asked to leave at closing time.
Darren Roberts, of Waters Edge, Farnworth, was drinking in the Old Three Crowns on Deansgate in Bolton on November 20, 2021.
Prosecutor Mr Hall told Bolton Crown Court that in the early hours of November 21 when the pub reached its closing time, door supervisor Philip Murphy asked Roberts to move to a “different part of the pub so he could put equipment away as they were soon closing”.
But Roberts “refused despite multiple requests”.
CCTV footage played to the court showed Roberts hitting Mr Murphy in the face with a bottle.
Mr Hall added: “The bottle leaves his hand, smashing a window and causing damage in the region of £1,700.
“He was then restrained by other members of the public.”
Mr Murphy was uncontactable so it was not possible for the court to obtain a victim personal statement.
Defence barrister, Ms Judge, argued that, due to his line of work, Roberts would be likely to lose his job if given a community sentence.
She suggested that Judge Tom Gilbart should give Roberts a fine instead, in “exceptional” circumstances to prevent him losing his job and his house.
She said: “A community-based sentence would have such a detrimental impact on his livelihood, I submit to the court that he should instead be given a fine.”
Ms Judge said Roberts needed to fulfil a certificate periodically at work to make sure he is fit to undertake the role.
She added that a diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder contributed to mental health issues for Roberts, following an unspecified event in 2014.
He had also previously served in the armed forces.
Concluding, Judge Gilbart said: “You came across the victim, Philip Murphy, in the pub in the early hours of November 21, he asked you to move.
“The man was doing his job, he asked you to move and you refused to.
“You swung your hand towards his head, you were holding a bottle.”
Judge Gilbart added: “You express your remorse to the victim and the owner of the pub. I am satisfied that remorse you express is genuine.”
Roberts, 41, previously pleaded guilty to one charge of assault by beating and one count of criminal damage.
On Friday, Judge Gilbart ordered Roberts to pay a £2,400 fine to be paid within 28 days, due to the exceptional circumstances that he would lose his job if he were given a community-based sentence.
Judge Gilbart also told him to pay the £1,700 of damage caused by smashing the bottle through the pub window.
Source – Bolton News
