Worksop man with learning difficulties slapped barmaid because she wouldn't serve him another drink and customers were winding him up

Richard Anthony Taylor had been drinking in the Unicorn pub, in Bridge Street, hn the incident happened on February 2 this year, Nottingham Magistrates’ Court heard on Friday, October 16.

Prosecuting, Ann Barrett said: “The complainant had been working that night and said that there had been no issues with the defendant before. She noticed that he looked quite tired and like he was falling asleep.

“He came up to the bar at some stage and someone pulled his hood over his head and this made him quite aggressive and she decided not to serve him any more alcohol because of the aggression, and she removed the half pint he had.

“He reached over the bar and slapped her to the face, knocking her sideways.She experienced agonising pain and bruising to her left eye socket.”

Taylor, 51, of Queen Street, Worksop, admitted common assault when he appeared before the court.

Mitigating, Pamela Coxon told the court: “He has special needs and has been resident in supported living for the past six years. He can be challenging from time to time, and he can be when he’s in the community, when he’s had alcohol and when people do things to him.

“He was angry that the lady would not serve him alcohol and because of what other people were doing to him.”

Taylor was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £300 in compensation, £85 costs and a £22 victim surcharge.

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