Riding club pair who attacked pub staff told off for laughing during sentencing

Telegraph

16-03-2025

A couple who attacked staff at a country pub following a Christmas party for a horse riding club were criticised by a judge for laughing in court as they were sentenced.
Nathan Sayer, a company director, and his wife Catharine were spared jail following the fracas which was sparked when they were told they could not have another drink.
But Judge Stephen Apted accused the couple of appearing 'pleased with themselves' and interrupted their sentencing hearing to tell them to stop laughing at the prosecutor's summary of their offending.
'I don't know why you two sit there laughing, shaking your heads,' the judge said. 'You two have behaved in this way throughout this trial, I simply don't understand why you sit laughing and shaking your heads at what you hear.
'You fail to understand and appreciate how appalling and disgraceful your behaviour was.'
Basingstoke magistrates' court heard the incident took place at The New Inn in Hook, Hampshire, in the run-up to Christmas 2023.
The Sayers became 'angry' and launched the attack at closing time when they could not 'get the beers in' and were asked to leave.
They have since been banned from up to nine pubs in the nearby area, the court was told, and now plan to move away after being 'ostracised' by the community.
In January, Mr Sayer, 50, and his wife, 54, were found guilty of assault and religiously aggravated harassment.
They have both received a 12-month community order. Mr Sayer was fined £1,204 while Mrs Sayer was fined £1,554. The couple have both been ordered to complete 15 sessions of rehabilitation activities and 150 hours of unpaid work.
After her lawyer told the court she was 'petrified' of the prospect of going to prison, Mrs Sayer smiled and laughed as she left the dock after being sentenced.
The court heard at their trial in November that the incident involving both of the Sayers took place on De 9, 2023.
Prosecutor Ryan Seneviratne said they visited The New Inn with 25 others who were all part of a horse riding club at the Wedgewood livery yard.
The Sayers had been seen throwing food and festive crackers during the gathering.
At closing time the Sayers left the pub, but then came back inside the venue because Mr Sayer, who runs a sales consultancy company, had forgotten his scarf.
Laura Faulkner, one of the pub landlords, told the court that Mrs Sayer then went to the bar and 'demanded' another drink with her husband, saying: 'Get the beers in.'
When they were refused, an altercation broke out, and Mrs Faulkner, along with three employees – two female and one male – ushered the couple out of the venue.
In the pub foyer, the couple became 'really angry' according to Thomas Faulkner, Mrs Faulkner's husband and the other pub landlord. He started recording a video on his phone which was played to the court.
Mr Sayer abused an employee he mistakenly thought was Muslim – the staff member had a deep tan from a recent holiday to Australia. He subjected him to religious abuse which included calling him 'Mustafa' and 'Sheikh Mohammed'.
Mrs Sayer injured Mrs Faulkner by grabbing her shirt around the neck and swore at her. She also beat Mr Faulkner around the head as the couple were escorted out of the pub by staff.
Judge Apted noted to the court that in denying their offences, the couple 'have refused throughout to accept what is plain to see on the video'.
'Having been rejected from the pub, you were seen on the CCTV footage kissing and congratulating each other,' he said.
'I am at a complete loss to explain your behaviour. You appear to have been pleased with yourselves.
'Neither of you have shown any remorse or accept any responsibility for your actions.'
Mr Sayer, who was unrepresented, told Aldershot magistrates' court in his defence that he had 'acted like a man'.
He said the couple had been followed out of the pub by a 'lynch mob' and that the staff were 'actively seeking conflict' with them.
Alphonsus Doran, Mrs Sayer's defence lawyer, told the court at their sentencing: 'The community has effectively ostracised the defendants.
'He has been spat in the face. Her employer has let her go and because of it she has lost her job. They have lived in that community for 17 years.'
Mr Doran said the couple plan to sell their house and move out of the area, and they have applied for universal credit because of the 'massive impact' the case had on Mr Sayer's professional life.
'I had a contract that was lost because of people contacting them,' he said.