A PRINTING assistant narrowly escaped a prison sentence for assaulting the landlord of a Ledbury pub after a drinking binge, a court heard.

Mark David Toman from New Street, Ledbury celebrated playing the last football match of the season by drinking 10 pints of lager and 'lots of shorts' before he and his girlfriend finished up in The Bull on May 4.

The couple were still drinking when landlord, Gary Jameson, called time at 10.50pm and he asked Toman's girlfriend to drink up as they were closing, Stephen Davies, prosecuting, told Herefordshire magistrates.

He repeated his request and when Toman became abusive and the pair made no attempt to finish, Mr Jameson removed their glasses and put them on the bar.

The publican barred Toman before he headbutted a window, breaking the glass and punched Mr Jameson in the face resulting in a cut above his eyebrow which needed three stitches as well as damage to his tooth and gums.

Over-reaction

In mitigation, Rebecca Edmonds told how Toman, 24, had only been before the courts on one previous occasion. Miss Edmonds said Toman admitted he had consumed a large amount of alcohol and his response to an otherwise innocuous set of circumstances was an over-reaction in the cold light of day.

"He has given considerable thought to his behaviour. He is being much more careful about his alcohol consumption level," explained Miss Edmonds.

Magistrates said their starting point had been to send Toman to prison. But they took into consideration Toman's guilty plea to actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

They also heard how Toman asked his girlfriend to return to the pub to pay for the broken window the day after the incident.

Toman was ordered to complete a community punishment order for a period of 160 hours and pay Mr Jameson £600 compensation and £55 costs.