Boozy attack captured on mobile phone

Published on 31st May 2007 in News

MAGISTRATES watched footage recorded on a mobile phone of a Holme man who head-butted a stranger for no apparent reason.

Lance Spencer (18) appeared before Selby magistrates to admit a charge of causing actual bodily harm to Michael Laverack in the IT Bar, in Ousegate.

Prosecuting, Ann Darwin said Mr Spencer told police he had been too drunk to remember why the incident occurred.

She explained: "The complainant had been to out at a friend's 21st birthday party at a squash club and they moved on to the IT Bar."

She told the court Mr Laverack said he had been chatting to a man he did not know - the defendant - inside the premises. He said he had been having a "friendly conversation for about 10 minutes" when Mr Spencer head-butted him "completely out of the blue".

The attack caused him to fall into a collection of drinks glasses and left him with a gash to his head which bled heavily.

Mrs Darwin said a man who knew Mr Spencer had been using his mobile phone to video the dance floor and captured the incident. He made a statement: "For no apparent reason Lance head-butted this man in the face with a lot of force. I immediately stopped filming and grabbed Lance."

Magistrates heard that Mr Spencer was restrained by door staff before being taken into police custody. Mrs Darwin told them that in interview the defendant told officers that he had been drunk at the time and could not remember, or offer any explanation for, the assault.

In mitigation Charles Cooper said Mr Spencer, an 18-year-old apprentice engineer, had mixed his drinks after going for a night out in Selby for the first time on February 3. The incident would not have happened if he had not been so drunk.

Presiding magistrate Ron Humphries said: "We want an all-options report and that includes considering custody." He added: "This is quite serious and it would be in your interests to keep out of the IT Bar."

Mr Spencer, of Moor End in Holme-on-Spalding Moor, was told to return to court on June 22 for sentencing.