Man ‘spoiling for a fight’ in pub had knife in his pocket

BLADE WAS FOR OPENING BOXES AT WORK, COURT WAS TOLD

A MAN “forgot” he had a knife in his pocket when he squared up to a group of strangers in a town pub, a court heard.

The blade fell from Gurminder Singh’s trouser pocket as he abused and threatened customers and staff at The Oadby Owl, in Glen Road, Oadby, earlier this year.

Even after he had been kicked out, he continued to behave aggressively and used racist language when police arrived.

Singh, of Windrush Drive, Oadby, appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court to admit three offences, including possession of a weapon in public, and said the blade was for use at work and he had forgotten he had it with him.

Prosecutor Stacey Mills told the court 30-year-old Singh turned violent in the pub on the evening of Saturday, March 7.

She said Singh had sat himself down next to a group of strangers in the pub.

At some stage, Ms Mills said, he accused a member of the group of looking at him.

She said: “He stood up and as he did so a Stanley knife blade fell out of his pocket and on to the floor.

“The blade was recovered and placed behind the bar by a member of staff, who told him to leave the premises.

“He responded: ‘ Why should I leave? Who do you think you are?’”

The staff member called the police while a colleague managed to get Singh out of the building before locking the door.

While outside, he remained aggressive, using threatening language and pushing and pulling the door, Ms Mills said.

She added: “It appears the defendant was simply spoiling for a fight on a Saturday night.

“It also appears he did not intend to produce the knife – it fell out of his pocket.”

When police arrived, he used a racially offensive remark about the people inside the pub.

His solicitor, Amena Aijaz, told the court: “He did not have any intention of harming anyone with the blade.

“He also co-operated with police at the scene and admitted everything in interview.

“He’d started a removals job and he and a colleague had travelled to London earlier that day.

“That’s why he had the blade – for opening boxes.

“He and his friend went back to Leicester and started to have a few drinks and he forgot it was in his pocket.

“He says his behaviour on that night was not normal for him and that he is ashamed.

“He says he was going through a lot at the time. His aunt had died the week before and his mum, who was very close to her, was not dealing with it very well. With regard to the racist comment, he says he’d had so much to drink that he does not remember making that comment. “He says he is not racist and has a lot of friends from different racial backgrounds.” Magistrates decided their sentencing powers were insufficient for the case and ordered that it be sent up to Leicester Crown Court. Singh is due to be sentenced for possession of the blade, threatening behaviour and racially aggravated harassment at the higher court on Thursday, November 5.

In the meantime, magistrates ordered that Singh cannot go within 50 metres (55 yards) of The Oadby Owl.

He says his behaviour on that night was not normal for him and that he is ashamed

Amena Aijaz, mitigating