Ex-soldier had drunk more than eight pints of beer
Richard Gill appeared at Hull Crown Court(Image: Hull Live)
A bad-tempered ex-soldier “behaved like a drunken, angry bully” when he viciously punched another man who took pity on – and tried to “console” –a woman who had just been sick in a hotel bar. Lorry driver Richard Gill continued to be aggressive after confronting the unsuspecting victim and warned him: “Don’t think it’s over. I’m going to have you.”
It was only by good fortune that the man was not seriously injured after being knocked to the floor, Hull Crown Court heard. Gill, 57, of Holly Close, Buckton, near Bridlington, admitted assaulting the man on September 26.
Holly Thompson, prosecuting, told an earlier hearing that the man was, at the time, a regular customer at the Revelstoke Hotel in Flamborough Road, Bridlington, and he was sitting at the bar on the evening of the incident at about 8pm. A group of other people, including Gill, sat some distance away.
A woman was sick in the bar and the man spoke to her after this. Gill returned from outside the hotel and he pushed the man. He told the man not to talk to her ever again.
Gill was asked by staff to leave but he aggressively told the hotel customer: “Don’t think it’s over. I’m going to have you.” He ran over and punched the man with a clenched fist, causing him to fall to the floor.
CCTV pictures showed Gill’s aggressive behaviour and repeated blows to the victim. The man was on the floor for about 10 minutes but he suffered no injuries.
The emergency services were contacted. Gill was held back but he continued shouting towards the man. The police arrived at about 11.45pm. Gill had already been detained by others.
He was identified and arrested but continued to make threatening comments towards the man before the police took him away.
The victim later said: “I still can’t believe what has occurred. I was attempting to console the female.” Gill used “sustained force” and knocked the victim to the floor from a standing position before continuing the attack, said Miss Thompson.
During police interview, Gill claimed that he was acting in self-defence. He had been to a funeral and he had drunk more than eight pints of beer. He had convictions for five previous offences between 1990 and 2016, most recently for assault in December 2016.
John Dunning, mitigating, said that Gill had been drinking to excess because of a funeral. “He went for a nightcap to this hotel,” said Mr Dunning.
“He very much regrets this incident. He must have been shocked when he saw the CCTV. He claimed he was acting in self-defence out of panic. He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.
“He recognises that the amount he had drunk played a substantial part in this. He has given up drinking to excess. He had a little bit of wine over Christmas but that was about it.”
There were references for Gill. He had been a member of the armed forces for a number of years, including serving in Northern Ireland and Kosovo. He had been working as a heavy goods vehicle driver for a distribution company 60 hours a week.
Judge John Thackray KC told Gill: “You behaved like a drunken, angry bully. It’s only good fortune that your significant punch did not lead to more serious injuries.”
Gill was given 15 days’ rehabilitation and he was ordered to pay £500 compensation.
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