3 days ago
Drunk thug who punched bar manager in face told to ‘stop boozing'
A drunk thug punched a bar manager in the face after he was told he would not be served any more alcohol.
Luke Hicks became aggressive when the drinks dried up at Yates in Southampton.
The 33-year-old travelled from Rotherham to visit his brother in April, but the happy reunion ended with his arrest.
Despite fracturing the man's jaw in two places, Hicks walked free from court but was firmly told to 'stop boozing'.
Prosecuting, Christopher Wing told Southampton Crown Court that he was refused alcohol at around 9pm on April 24 as his behaviour deteriorated.
General manager of the bar Charlie Balsdon was outside the premises when Hicks punched him square in the jaw, causing him to stumble back and fall to the ground.
Mr Wing said: 'After the punch, he was apprehended by other staff members, and the victim was taken to hospital.
'An X-ray revealed he had two fractures to his jaw.'
Drunk thug Luke Hicks, in grey and black, punched the manager at Yates, Southampton in April (Image: CPS) In a victim impact statement read by Mr Wing, Charlie Balsdon said he still struggles to eat non-soft food four months on and had to have four metal plates put in his jaw.
He said: 'I spent four days in hospital and now have the plates in my jaw to keep the joints together.
'I still have no feeling in the lower area of the righthand side of my face, and my jaw still cannot open fully. I feel anxious I will be attacked again.'
READ MORE: Thief went on stealing spree after partner fell pregnant with another man's child
The court heard Hicks initially denied punching the victim, but when he was shown CCTV footage of the attack he "sniggered" and told police he was 'really drunk'.
Four months on, he has realised he needs to deal with his mental health, Keely Harvey said on behalf of Hicks.
She said he has a place to stay and a job waiting for him should he not be sent to prison.
Judge Nigel Peters KC told Hicks he 'needs to sacrifice boozing' and 'think of the money in his pocket' by giving up alcohol.
'You need to compensate that poor man who had his jaw broken', he added.
'When you punch somebody and they fall to the ground, anything can happen to them – they could die.
'You are someone with a bad record of violence through drink.'
Hicks, from Lapwater Road, Rotherham, admitted one charge of GBH was given a 16-month sentence suspended for two years and is subject to 120 days alcohol abstinence via a monitoring tag.
He must complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days and pay compensation of £1200 to the victim.
