Published at 15:44, Wednesday, 21 April 2010

A MAN was assaulted by three different people in one night, a court has heard.

Whitehaven magistrates heard that Paul McGuirk, who had been in the North pub on Duke Street, was punched several times by his ex-partner Amanda Louise Glaister and then by her friend Katy Johnston.

Just minutes later, Mr McGuirk was punched five times by Maurice Heal, in an unprovoked attack.

Glaister, 29, of White School Close, Kells, admitted the offence and been ordered to complete a six month community order, with a three week curfew. She must also pay £50 court costs.

Johnston, 27, of Hill Top Road, Whitehaven, also admitted assaulting Mr McGuirk. She must pay a £150 fine, with £50 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Heal, 38, of Meadow Road, Whitehaven, also admitted an assault charge. He has been ordered to complete 60 hours of unpaid work and pay £200 compensation to Mr McGuirk with £50 court costs.

Jane Mackrill, prosecuting, said there were two unrelated incidents which had taken place in the pub on January 23.

She said Glaister was with her friend Johnston in the pub, when they saw Mr McGuirk. Glaister, who had previously been in a relationship with Mr McGuirk, had gone to speak to him and an argument followed.

Mrs Mackrill said Glaister punched him twice and was escorted out of the pub by door staff. The court heard that Johnson then went over to the defendant and punched him once.

Mrs Mackrill, said minutes later, Glaister walked back into the pub at the same time Heal walked in. Heal walked over to Mr McGuirk and punched him between five and six times.

Whitehaven magistrates accepted that Heal did not know the other two defendants, and it had been a complete coincidence that Heal and Glaister had walked into the pub together.

John Dugan, for Glaister, said his client had become very emotional during an argument with Mr McGuirk and had lashed out at him.

Craig Smith, for Johnston, said: “This is an unfortunate situation that my client got caught up in. She was aware that Glaister had gone to have a word with the complainant. She lagged behind and wasn’t intending to get involved at all.”

She said Mr McGuirk was abusive towards Glaister and so she “pushed him out of the way” but her hand “connected with his face”.

Mr Smith, also defending Heal, said his client believed he had been assaulted by Mr McGuirk earlier that day and, when he spotted him in the pub, he went over and punched him.

“When he got into the North pub, one of the first things he saw was the complainant. He went over and got one in first,” Mr Smith added.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk