Pubwatch welcomes bar staff assault prosecution

National Pubwatch has welcomed news that a 25-year old Abingdon man has been successfully prosecuted after assaulting a barman.

Nathan Ponting was given 80 hours community service at Didcot Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to assaulting 20-year old Thomas James, who was working at the Crown and Thistle Hotel in Abingdon on 2 October.

James refused to serve Ponting and his friends because they appeared to already be intoxicated.

The barman asked them to leave, but they refused. Ponting later admitted to shouting at Thomas James in an offensive and homophobic manner and to pushing him in the chest.

The court also gave Ponting a 12-month Exclusion Order from the pub and he was also banned from all pubs in the local pubwatch scheme.

The prosecution was welcomed by National Pubwatch, which is campaigning for tougher action against thugs through its Court not Caution campaign.

"We believe that everyone working and socialising in our towns and cities deserves to do so in safety," said National Pubwatch chairman Steve Baker.

"It makes sense that the police respond positively when bar and pub staff are assaulted doing their job.

"They hold the key to preventing many of the problems associated with alcohol and they need to feel confident that the criminal justice system will support them if things go wrong.

"I'm extremely grateful for the lead taken by Thames Valley Police in responding to some of the issues raised in our Court Not Caution campaign."