Customer was punched in village pub attack (From York Press)

Customer was punched in village pub attack

7:46am Tuesday 7th August 2012 in News

A MAN has been banned from a pub and ordered to pay the landlord compensation after he attacked one of his customers.

Sam Michael Rowley, 21, of Flaxley Road, Selby , pleaded guilty to assault by beating, and causing criminal damage, when he appeared at Selby Magistrates’ Court.

James Wilson, the victim, had been in Carlton, near Selby, at about 8pm on July 4 when Rowley followed him, shouting “come on James, let’s go”.

He then followed him into the Forresters Arms, the court heard.

Mr Wilson was then joined at his table by another man and Rowley, who allegedly said: “Shall we do him in?”, before he threw a punch at Mr Wilson, said Sandra White, prosecuting.

The first attempt missed, but a second punch hit Mr Wilson on the top of his head. Rowley then ran out of the pub, tripping and falling as he fled.

The court heard Rowley lost his phone and wallet, which were never recovered, and the pub landlord reported a 6ins x 4ins hole in a plywood wall after the incident.

Steve Munro, mitigating, said Mr Wilson had previously been in a relationship with Rowley’s mother.

He said Rowley denied the “conspiratorial suggestion”, but admitted joining Mr Wilson at his table was not “the wisest thing to do”.

Magistrate Brian Wood sentenced Rowley to an eight-week curfew, 80 hours of unpaid work, and an exclusion order from the pub.

Mr Wood said: “We have heard there was a bit of history between you and the gentleman. It was a dear day because you lost your wallet and phone, but you can’t take the law into your own hands.”

Rowley was also ordered to pay £85 costs, and £50 compensation for the damage.