Blackburn restaurant boss headbutted by drunken man

10:05am Saturday 17th May 2008

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A RESTAURANT manager marking up his outdoor specials board was head butted without warning by a drunken passer-by.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Mark Wignall bumped into Joseph Nagati outside the La Mama restaurant on Darwen Street and got some pen on his shirt.

"Without saying anything he head butted the aggrieved in the face," said Catherine Allan, prosecuting.

"Not surprisingly Mr Nagati was completely shocked by this."

Wignall, 21, of Mill Hill Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assault and was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Miss Allan said Mr Nagati had been outside the restaurant at about 6.30 pm and was about to write up the specials for that evening.

As he stood discussing the menu with a colleague Wignall bumped into him.

After the incident the other member of staff at the restaurant told police; "I couldn't believe what was happening because Joseph hadn't said anything."

Richard Prew, defending, said it would not surprise the magistrates to hear that Wignall was under the influence of alcohol.

"Rather than thinking about things, asking for an apology or simply walking away he saw red," said Mr Prew.

"He bitterly regrets his actions and wishes to apologise, through me, to Mr Nagati."