A man who was knocked unconscious in a three-way brawl outside a pub has been ordered to pay out more than £3,000.
Lorry driver James Woodward became involved in a verbal altercation with a bouncer outside Grantham’s King’s Arms on the evening of July 6, 2024.
When a member of the public attempted to split the two, 39-year-old Woodward punched him, leading the other two to attack him.
“They kicked the s*** out of me,” Woodward later told a probation officer.
On Wednesday, Woodward appeared for sentencing at Boston Magistrates’ Court, having been found guilty of affray at trial on June 5.
The defendant – who had ‘previous unresolved issues’ with the doorman – was waiting outside the pub for a friend, having previously been barred from the premises, prosecutor Jade Salter explained.
“They engage in a verbal altercation which escalates,” Miss Salter continued.
The prosecution added Woodward continued to be attacked after he was sent to the ground.
“When he regained consciousness he took himself away,” Miss Salter said.
It was explained to magistrates that all three men were charged with affray, Woodward because he threw the first punch.
”He appears to be assaulted, but at the start he engaged in a physical altercation,” the prosecution continued.
“It was 8.30pm in summer, in broad daylight.
“There were numerous reports from the public ringing this in.”
The other two men involved had previously appeared before the courts, the doorman receiving a 12-week suspended jail term and the third man handed an eight-month suspended sentence at Lincoln Crown Court.
A probation report said Woodward claimed to have landed the first blow in a ‘pre-emptive defence’.
The report added Woodward — who would be unable for unpaid work as he suffers from depression, possible PTSD, heart failure and an auto immune disorder — said ‘they kicked the s*** out of me’.
In defence, Jacob Bacon said his client’s only crime was throwing the initial punch.
“From that point he was grabbed and fell to the ground,” he said.
“He was assaulted for in excess of a minute and became unconscious.
“Some members of the public dragged the two other defendants away from the lifeless Mr Woodward who was on the floor.
“This was a single punch that escalated to where we are now. That is his cross to bear.”
Woodward, of Ermine Close, Grantham, was fined £1,730.
He must also pay a £692 victim surcharge and £650 costs.
“Clearly you came off much the worst in the end, but you started this affray in the first place,” chairman of the bench Dr Grahame Killey told Woodward.
Source – Lincs Online