Published date: 15 July 2016 |
Published by: Staff reporterRead more articles by Staff reporterEmail reporter
A HEART patient claimed he attacked an OAP in a town centre pub because he felt threatened, a court heard.
District judge Gwyn Jones, sitting at Wrexham Magistrates Court, saw CCTV footage of Garry Owens, 53, punching 67-year-old Edwin Roberts three times in the face at the Old Vaults pub in Wrexham on June 5.
Immediately before the incident Owens was shown leaning over to talk to Mr Roberts, who was sitting near the door with his wife Naomi, for several minutes.
Rhian Jackson, prosecuting, said Owens, of Percy Road in Wrexham, told officers in interview that Mr Roberts had twice threatened him outside the pub that night but he had gone back inside to avoid trouble.
But he then heard Mr Roberts say something to him before swearing at him.
Owens told police he punched Mr Roberts three times to keep him away as he had recently had a triple bypass and felt that a punch to the chest could kill him.
The video showed the pair talking for several minutes before Owens punches Mr Roberts three times and leaves, ushered away by other customers, including Mr Roberts’ wife.
Miss Jackson told the court that Mr Roberts had known Owens for many years but only by his nickname of ‘Gnasher’.
Before the assault, Mr Roberts had asked Owens why he didn’t talk to him any more.
Mr Roberts told police that Owens punched him in the head several times and there was blood all over his face, the court heard.
He did not remember much of the incident, Miss McVitie said. His wife had told him that they went to another pub but then decided to get a taxi home.
When they arrived home, his nose was still bleeding, as was a cut to his face.
Mr Roberts, who also sustained bruising round the eyes, was advised to go to hospital but decided not to.
Owens pleaded guilty to assault by beating.
Justine McVitie, defending, said Owens had been a valued customer at the pub and had not been in trouble since 2013.
Owens was leaving the pub, she added, but Mr Roberts had beckoned him over.
Mr Roberts was aggressive during the conversation and threatened Owens, who punched him.
It started as self-defence, Miss McVitie added, but certainly didn’t end that way as Owens threw two further punches.
Owens accepted his actions went beyond self-defence and he had already been barred from the Old Vaults, the court heard.
Miss McVitie added Mr Roberts had not received lasting injuries and Owens had made a prompt guilty plea.
Mr Jones told Owens: “It’s clear you spoke to the victim and you assaulted him without any good reason.
“You punched him three times and went over and beyond what could be expected if you felt you were a person at risk.”
The judge imposed a 12-month community order, with a 14-week curfew between 7pm and 6am.
Owens must pay Mr Roberts £250 in compensation, £85 prosecution costs and the same amount as a surcharge.
He was excluded from the Old Vaults pub for a year.
see-http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/164351/heart-bypass-man-punched-oap-three-times-in-wrexham-pub-fracas.aspx
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