Ashfield man smashed pub windows with a hammer after being kicked out for breaching Covid rules

Jamie Paul Doleman had been drinking in the pub on July 12 last year when staff had noticed him ignoring the one-way system, which had been implemented to minimise the spread of the pandemic, Nottingham Magistrates’ Court was told on Thursday, January 7.

When he had been asked to leave he had kicked over a sweet machine and said that he would be coming back with a shotgun, said Becky Allsop, prosecuting.

She told the court: “The designated premises supervisor was working at around 7.55pm on the day in question when she was made aware that the defendant had returned to the pub after earlier being asked to leave.

“She and other members of staff asked him to leave again, after earlier being asked to leave for breaching their Covid protocols.

“She heard the sound of smashing glass, and ran outside and saw him with a hammer in his hand and he was bouncing around in an aggressive manner. He kept trying to provoke a fight with her husband.”

A total of three windows were smashed in the incident at the Reg Lion pub, in High Street, Hucknall, and Doleman had initially been restrained by locals, but had escaped and ran off, she said.

“He was seen by police a short distance away and, when stopped, had slurred speech and glazed eyes, and had fresh injuries on his arms,” Ms Allsop added.

Doleman, aged 36, of Broomhill Road, Hucknall, had been convicted of criminal damage, threatening behaviour and threatening behaviour, at a hearing last year.

Speaking in his own defence, he told the court that he had become angry because someone had kicked his dog, and presented the court with letters detailing his mental health issues.

Magistrates gave Doleman a nine-week prison sentence, suspended for 15 months, and a 15-month community order to include 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days with the Probation Service.

He was also ordered to pay £600 in compensation to the pub, but no prosecution costs or victim surcharge were awarded.

Magistrates also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the hammer and banned Doleman from entering the pub for the next 15 months.

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