Thornham man involved in pub brawl threw water on staff and stomped on worker’s foot

A complaint about a glass of cloudy water escalated into a pub brawl where a 53-year-old tipped that water on a member of staff.

Anthony O’Connell, of Green Lane in Thornham, appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he was sentenced for a total of six offences.

Previously, O’Connell denied five of the offences but admitted one count of assault by beating.

He denied two counts of using threatening language to cause alarm or distress and three counts of assault by beating.

A trial took place in O’Connell’s absence where a bench found him guilty of all offences.

Prosecutor Stephen Munton said that on November 21 2022, O’Connell was at the Wash and Tope in Hunstanton when he complained about his glass of water being cloudy.

An argument escalated further and O’Connell poured the glass of water over the member of staff he was arguing with.

The court heard that he also shouted and swore and was asked to leave the pub.

However, O’Connell did not leave and when he was escorted out of the pub, he stamped on her foot.

He also grabbed another person in the pub by the collar and pushed him into a table.

In a victim impact statement, a member of staff working in the pub said that she felt “shaken up” by the incident and was suffering from a fractured foot before O’Connell stamped on it.

In mitigation, Alison Muir said that O’Connell did not “intend to go out and cause any harm”.

“Things got out of hand and they wanted him to leave,” said Ms Muir.

O’Connell was handed a 12 week prison sentence - suspended for 12 months.

He will also complete 10 rehabilitation activity days and he was ordered to pay £150 to one victim, and £50 to the other.

He will also pay a victim surcharge of £154.