Pair spared jail for affray that forced pub to close

MAN ATTACKED BAR’S DOOR STAFF

A COUPLE who caused carnage in a quiet East Yorkshire pub have narrowly avoided jail.

Owners of The Black Swan in Pocklington were forced to close early on December 21 last year after Adam Peka, 32, of The Oval in Pocklington began “throwing punches”.

Peka’s girlfriend, Rachael Westmoorland, 38, did not stop him as he launched himself at customers and door staff.

Both pleaded guilty to appeared at Hull Crown

Tuesday, November 10.

CCTV footage of the played to the courtroom.

Owners at the pub said they were forced to close at 10.30pm and evacuate customers, resulting in a loss of takings between £2,000 and £2,500.

The pub usually was scheduled to close at 1am.

The owners said: “Due to the risk of further injuries to the customers and door staff we had to close.

“The pub usually picks up at around midnight due to other pubs in Pocklington being closed at that time, but we had to close.”

A member of the affray and Court on

incident was pub’s door staff, who was injured during the incident, said he feared his career “was over”.

He said: “I work as door staff when I’m back in the country, but I have another career that I have worked hard for that sees me working overseas.

“After this I was in hospital for three days due to pressure in my head and I didn’t know if I would be able to go back.

“It was very distressing worrying that it could be the end of my career.”

The court heard Westmoorland was not directly involved in the incident, but did not make an effort to quell Peka’s violence.

Judge John Thackray spared the couple an immediate prison sentence, instead handing Peka an eight-month, sentence suspended for 18 months, and Westmoorland a year-long community order.

She will have to complete 50 hours of unpaid work and Peka will have to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £300 in compensation at £150 a month.

The judge told Peka: “Looking at the CCTV, it is obvious something upset you that evening, but whatever it was your reaction was out of proportion.

“You both behaved disgracefully and it is only your good fortune that more serious injuries were not caused.”