Worksop: Reveller walks free after pouring can of beer over elderly wheelchair-bound man’s head

David Mullen, 44, of Queen Street, pleaded not guilty to assault at Mansfield Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 16th July, but later changed his plea to guilty.

Ruth Snodin, prosecuting, told the court how Mullen had been arguing with the 76-year-old complainant on Bridge Street when he removed his cap and poured a can of beer over his head.

The complainant, who was wheelchair-bound, had sadly died shortly after the offence took place.

When he was later arrested and questioned by police, Mullen said he had poured the beer over the complainant because ‘he was sick of him.’

She added that Mullen was a man of bad character and ‘no stranger to the courts.’

Representing himself, Mullen argued that he had poured beer over the complainant because he had run into him several times with his wheelchair, hitting him in the shins.

He said: “There was no way I was going to hit him because he’s elderly, but I lost my temper with him after he started shouting abuse at me and running into me with his wheelchair.”

“I’d like to say sorry to him for what I did but obviously he has passed away now and I have to live with that. I know my record’s not sparkling but I’ve done my best to get help.”

Magistrates imposed a conditional discharge of six months and ordered that Mullen pay a victim surcharge of £15 and £150 in criminal court charges.