(Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
A punter kicked a woman as she lay on the floor after his partner became involved in a Darlington pub brawl.
Matthew Large appeared to be trying to prevent other people from becoming involved as his now former partner got the better of the scuffle with another woman, in the Black Swan, on Parkgate, on January 28, 2022.
Teesside Crown Court was told the disturbance arose over a row involving an unidentified man who it was alleged had not paid for drinks.
Anthony Pettengell, prosecuting, described Large’s actions as, “minimal intervention”, culminating in a kick to the victim’s leg as she lay on the pub floor.
Mr Pettengell said the victim was left with a number of injuries, including cuts, bruises and two black eyes, but they were mainly down to the actions of the defendant’s former partner, rather than due to his involvement in the incident.
The court was told the 40-year-old woman who launched the initial attack received a two-year suspended sentence, with 150-hours’ unpaid work, and was ordered to pay her victim £300 compensation, after admitting assault causing actual bodily harm, at the court, in January last year.
Large, now 41, of Goldsmith Gardens, Darlington, denied assault causing actual bodily harm, but admitted affray arising from his role in the incident.
He made that plea on the day he was due to go on trial for the assault, at the court in June.
The prosecution accepted those pleas and Mr Pettengell offered “no evidence” on the assault charge at the hearing on Friday (August 21).
Cainan Lonsdale, in mitigation, said the defendant spent five months on remand in custody earlier in proceedings, longer than he may now receive, for his role in the incident.
Mr Lonsdale said the defendant was trying to usher other people away to prevent them becoming involved in the pub confrontation, “which is not too dissimilar from other pub scuffles”.
Recorder Ayesha Smart recorded a formal not guilty verdict on the assault charge and, due to the time spent in custody by the defendant, passed a two-year community order.
But he was also ordered to complete 100 hours’ unpaid work and attend 20 rehabilitation activity days, overseen by the Probation Service.