A football fan from Exmouth who cleared a pub of customers after aggressively smashing windows has been ordered to pay compensation.
A 46-year-old man has appeared in court after an altercation in an Exmouth pub led him to smash multiple window panes, writes Isabelle Pinnock, OPCC court reporting scheme.
Martyn Wills, of the Beacon, Exmouth, pleaded guilty to causing harassment alarm or distress, and criminal damage to the value of £2,000 at the Strand pub in Exmouth.
The court heard Wills was at the pub on January 25 this year when staff became aware of loud shouting from downstairs. The landlord escorted the defendant outside and he became verbally abusive.
CCTV footage captured him repeatedly running at the windows and striking them with kicks and punches, causing significant damage to multiple panes.
He continued shouting aggressively at customers inside the pub, and when police arrived at around 11pm, he used abusive language towards them.
The Strand’s landlord, Mr Douglas, said the pub “instantly emptied” due to his behaviour.
“The windows had to be boarded up,” he said. “I heard one customer say they didn’t want to go to the pub because it looked rough, which I attribute to the damage he caused.”
Representing himself, Wills said it was the first time he had been to the Strand and that he “was only there to watch Arsenal play Man United”.
“It’s a rough pub anyway, I was told.” he said.
He added that he believed his drink had been spiked by “someone in the pub selling weed and cocaine”, which led him to lose his temper when he saw the male he suspected of doing so.
“I didn’t assault the landlord, he assaulted me,” the defendant said. “I was thrown to the floor by about a 6’ 7″ geezer. He grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and punched me three times in the face. I cracked the window with my fist and that was it.”
He argued that the damage caused to the windows was not £2,000 and that it was fixed the day after the incident.
Wills was fined £120 and ordered to pay a surcharge of £48 and court costs of £85. He must also pay a compensation contribution of £500.
