Darwen landlord attacked in row at his pub

1:32pm Sunday 18th May 2008

A PUB landlord who went out to remonstrate with a man smashing a window at his establishment was hit over the head with a stick and kicked after he fell to the floor.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Francis Mark Rice was angry after being "bottled" in the Ellenshaw pub earlier that night.

But the magistrates said all options, including custody, should be open to the sentencing bench because of the aggravating factors.

Rice, 22, of Allerton Close, Darwen, pleaded guilty to assaulting Colin Marshall and causing £300 worth of damage to his pub.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Rice and his father had been ejected from the pub earlier in the evening after an incident.

Half an hour later Mr Marshall heard a loud bang and went outside to find Rice with a stick in his hand still striking the window.

"The defendant attacked Mr Marshall swinging the stick and causing an injury to his hand before hitting him on the top of the head," said Miss Allan.

"Mr Marshall fell to the ground and while he was there Rice kicked him in the ribs several times."

Emma Morrissey, defending, said there had been an earlier incident, which the police had attended, during which Rice had been hit over the head with a bottle.

His father had also received a "severe beating" when they were set on by about 10 people.

"He accepts that he shouldn't have returned to the pub and acted out of retaliation," said Miss Morrissey.