Drunk’s chilling threats to pub boss
A DRUNKEN yob punched the Highfield Hotel’s manager in the eye before threatening: “I will stab you”.
Richard Bunker, 31, also said he would get his mates to torch the venue after launching the assault.
He had been asked to leave the Marton Road pub in Middlesbrough as staff locked up on August 28 this year.
But as the doors were being closed at 11.30pm, inebriated Bunker tried to force his way back in the building, prosecutors told Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
A commotion ensued as the staff member attempted to keep the defendant out by holding his arm out.
A statement from the victim read in court said: “At that point the defendant swung for me with his left fist and punched me in my right eye”.
Chillingly, Bunker then said: “Do you know who I am? Don’t you know who I am? I will get my mates to burn down the pub and I will stab you.”
The defendant, who has eight convictions for 19 offences, then kicked at the door.
He pleaded guilty to assault by beating and attempted criminal damage. Dave Forrester, mitigating, said his client is “embarrassed” and “he can’t even tell me why he was trying to get back into the hotel”.
He added “it’s just a nonsense” and said Bunker offers his apologies to the victim. Magistrates handed Bunker, of Northern Road, Linthorpe, a conditional discharge for 12 months for the assault and issued no separate penalty for the attempted criminal damage offence. He was ordered to pay a £206 court bill – including £100 in compensation.
Don’t you know who I am? I will get my mates to burn down the pub
and I will stab you.
Richard Bunker