He had been asked to leave
A bad-tempered troublemaker with a long history of violence repeatedly punched a man after taking offence at being asked to leave an organised Airsoft event because of his aggressive attitude. Benjamin Lambert knocked the victim to the ground after suddenly turning nasty and also bit him on the cheek during the shocking confrontation.
He was “out of control” at the time but it was not the first time that he had lost his temper and attacked someone, Hull Crown Court heard. Lambert, 33, of Anlaby Park Road North, Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted assaulting the man, causing actual bodily harm, on October 20 last year.
Jane Rapin, prosecuting, said that Lambert went to an Airsoft replica guns games event at Kirkburn, in the Driffield area, but staff had to speak to him about his behaviour. He became argumentative with a member of staff and pushed him.
Lambert walked with the man towards the exit but, on the way to the car park, he made threats, saying that once they got to the car park, the member of staff was dead. Lambert punched him four times in the face, taking him to the ground.
He bit him on his cheek but he was pulled away by another member of staff. The victim went to hospital and had a scan. A face wound was cleaned and dressed and he was given antibiotics.
The victim later said: “Since this incident, I have gone through a whole whirlwind of emotions. It left me at an all-time low.”
Lambert had convictions for 18 previous offences, including being given a nine-month suspended prison sentence, with 80 hours’ unpaid work, 15 days’ rehabilitation and £1,000 compensation, on January 22 last year for assaulting a man, causing actual bodily harm, on February 18, 2023.
Lambert had been jailed for five-and-a-half years in 2012 for aggravated burglary. He also had other convictions for assault causing actual bodily harm and for assault.
Molly Minter, mitigating, said that Lambert acted impulsively and he was “out of control” at the time. “Looking back, he doesn’t recognise the incident,” said Miss Minter.
“He understands that his actions on this occasion were wrong and were repulsive. There is no shying away from his responsibility in this incident.”
Lambert did not think things through but he was now much calmer. He and his cousin went to the Airsoft event as a way of trying to provide a distraction for other “emotionally-charged” problems.
Lambert was a self-employed groundworker and he had a business with a partner. He previously had a cocaine and cannabis problem but he stopped using substances more than a year ago.
“He has managed to turn his life around,” said Miss Minter. “He is not drinking. He is not going out in the evening partying.”
Judge John Thackray KC told Lambert: “It’s another example of you failing to control your temper. You attended an organised event at Driffield Camp. You were given an instruction which you didn’t like.
“You began to be argumentative and you became aggressive. You pushed one of the workers. You were asked to leave. You initially refused. You were walked to the car park.
“You made threats that the man was dead and then you punched him four times to the face. He went to the floor. Not satisfied with numerous punches, you bit him on the left cheek. You were pulled away by another staff member.”
Lambert was jailed for 15 months and he was given a five-year restraining order. He must pay a £187 victims’ surcharge.
The previous assault incident in 2023 happened after violence erupted at Brough railway station late at night when Lambert, who was collecting his girlfriend from a train, suddenly lost his temper, “completely overreacted” and viciously punched an innocent stranger.