Thug attacked pub landlord with CS gas to the face

Zak Humpage was attacked when he moved to separate two customers who had been involved in an argument earlier in the evening, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

David Copestick had gone on a 'bender' after the death of his grandmother and remembers nothing of what happened next at the Lion Bar and Club in Birchells Street, Walsall.

David Bennett, prosecuting , explained: "He had been acting aggressively since arriving at the club around two hours earlier and had been involved in an argument with another male. Both had been told to calm down or leave. Mr Humpage kept an eye on them and went to stand between the pair when they squared up to each other again."

Copestick pulled out a CS gas cannister and sprayed it in the face of the licensee. The defendant was ejected from the club but then sprayed more of the gas into the building through the letterbox.

Police were called and arrested the 33-year-old who was still in the area when they arrived and had previous convictions involving 41 separate offences. A CS gas cannister was found hidden in one of his socks.

Miss Geraldine Toal, defending, said: "He had consumed a lot of alcohol and has no recollection of the incident. He does not know how the spray came into his possession but had not gone out that night intending to cause anybody any harm. He had suffered a bereavement and had gone on a bender."

Copestick from St Matthews Close, Walsall pleaded guilty to illegal possession of CS spray and assaulting the club boss around 1am on November 12. He was jailed for eight months.

Judge Alan Parker told him: "You did not threaten or menace Mr Humpage. You sprayed him straight in the eyes but even that did not bring you to your senses. You continued to use the cannister after leaving the club and sprayed CS gas through the letter box. The vast majority of people find bereavement a moderating influence but you are a violent man. You had a weapon and used it."