Solicitor who attacked a man in opera seat row told to pay £2,265
A SOLICITOR has been ordered to pay £2,265 in fines, costs and compensation for punching a fashion designer during an argument over a seat at an opera.
Matthew Feargrieve, 43, was found guilty in December of assaulting Ulrich Engler at least once while attending a performance of Wagner at the Royal Opera House, on October 7, 2018.
The investment funds lawyer lashed out against Mr Engler with “a constant flow of blows” after the designer climbed into an empty front row seat next to Feargrieve’s partner Catherine Chandler and moved her coat.
Sentencing Feargrieve at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, District Judge John Zani said the defendant used “excessive force” during the attack.
He said: “You really should not have behaved in the way you did. In my view you lost your temper.
“It was excessive. It should not have happened. You are an experienced, professional man and you should know how to behave.”
The solicitor hit a fashion designer after he moved his partner’s coat.
Feargrieve, of Lonsdale Road, Barnes, south-west London, was fined £900, ordered to pay £775 in costs, £500 in compensation and a £90 victim surcharge.
Mr Engler told City of London Magistrates’ Court at a previous hearing that he had moved into an empty chair in Row A from his seat in Row B at the London venue three days earlier, and did so again on October 7.
Mr Engler, whose clients include the Countess of Derby, said he asked Ms Chandler if he could sit in the vacant seat next to her and if she had purchased it.
When she said no to both questions, he moved into the seat, moving Ms Chandler’s coat and putting it on her lap.
Feargrieve then “lashed out” and punched Mr Engler at least once, the court heard.
Mr Engler, who was given a ban by the opera house which was later rescinded, told the court he was attacked at least 10 minutes into the performance and left with injuries to his left side.
He claimed he was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and said the assault had affected his creative abilities as a designer.
But Lisa Wilding QC, defending Feargrieve, argued there was a lack of evidence to show the PTSD was caused by the assault.
She said Feargrieve was a man of “exemplary good character” and had lost work as a result of the incident.