A MEMBER of staff from famous York shop Barnitts has appeared in court after a drunken brawl broke out at the company's Christmas party.

Police had to be called when an altercation involving several drunken men broke out in the function room on an upper floor of The Eagle and Child pub in High Petergate, said Cathy Turnbull, prosecuting at York Magistrates Court.

As officers tried to keep Paul Andrew Lumby, 52, away from another man, Lumby punched one policeman’s jaw with his fist, the court was told.

He also pushed the officer and shouted and swore at him.

Lumby had never been in trouble with the police before, magistrates heard.

Adam Henry, defending, said a woman had also been involved. “As a result of her behaviour during the incident, she has subsequently lost her job,” he said.

Lumby had been “acting as a peacemaker” said the solicitor.

Lumby, of Eastholme Drive, Rawcliffe, pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer. He was given a conditional discharge for six months and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £20 statutory surcharge.

Ms Turnbull said the officer wasn’t injured but did suffer pain and discomfort.

When police arrived at the pub on December 11, Lumby was pushing another man against a wall. One officer took the second man aside to talk to him, but Lumby tried to push past the police to get to him.

York Press:

“You don’t know him, I will calm him down,” said Lumby, but a second policeman told him to stay where he was.

Lumby swore at the second policeman, pushed him forcibly, knocking him into a doorway and a group of males formed round them.

The second policeman tried to get hold of him and Lumby punched him in the jaw with a fist.

Lumby had to be restrained on the floor before he could be arrested.

Mr Henry handed in a character reference from Lumby’s employers and a friend of his.

Lumby hadn’t recognised that the police officers were police at the time, he said.

The shock of hearing he had been arrested had caused his wife to have an epileptic fit. He was remorseful for his actions.

 Barnitts declined to comment when contacted by The Press yesterday.