Man appears in Court after Punching Door Supervisor
It’s good to see the fast turn around for sentencing on any assault, especially when the crime is against a security officer doing his job.
In June of this year, 25 year-old man punched a bouncer in the face outside a Yates in Retford.
Christopher Lodge, 25, of Moorgate, Retford, appeared before the judge at Worksop Magistrates’ Court earlier this week and pleaded guilty to a charge of common assault.
The victim was door supervisor, Alan Murphy who was working at Yates’s on the 21st of June 2014 when the attack took place.
CCTV footage was vital to the prosecution as is it showed Lodge fighting with another individual at the venue, prior to the assault on the bouncer.
As Door Supervisor Murphy attempted to escort Lodge out of the premises, the young man put up a fight which led him to being thrown to the floor by Murphy on more than one occasion.
The CCTV footage then showed Murphy and Lodge outside the venue, where Lodge punched the door supervisor in the face. (Other people were running out of the venue at that point, with one male carrying a chair above his head.)
The assault took place outside Yates’s, Retford on the 21st of June 2014
The Prosecution
Prosecuting solicitor, Ruth Snowdin, speaking on behalf of Murphy stated that the incident was entirely unprovoked.
Mitigating circumstances were brought up in court. David Verity stated that: “The CCTV shows Mr Lodge being thrown to the floor by the staff. This was all after an altercation with another man. He threw a punch at that male but it was more of a glancing blow. He knows that is it a serious incident at a licence premises in the town centre.”
In other words, the fact force had been used against Mr Lodge just prior to the assault on the door supervisor, was used as part of the defence. A predictable claim in the light of the circumstances.
Other points raised as part of the defence was the fact the offender had drunk a lot more than he normally would do. It is also claimed that Lodge has since tried to watch the amount of alcohol he drinks. (Although, anyone who has a minimal knowledge of the law will understand, alcohol cannot be used as a substantial defence in any crime).
The fact the door supervisor did not sustain any injury, was also considered as part of the sentencing.
In the end, the assault upon the door supervisor did not amount to a prison sentence.
Lodge was ordered to a 12-month community order, 120 hours unpaid work, and had to pay £50 compensation, £85 costs and £65 victim surcharge.
Although Door Supervisors face potential assault every time they go to work, it is reassuring fact that it does not happen all that often.
With most licensed premises having adequate CCTV footage, it also means that when an incident does take place, there is video footage to help with any potential investigation.
At the end of the day, this helps both the door supervisors and other security personnel while they work, as well as the general public at large.
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