An angry customer hid in a bush outside a pub before suddenly lunging towards the landlord with a knife – because he had a simmering “grudge” against him for being barred. Mark Grant threw stones to attract the unsuspecting landlord’s attention and confronted him in an “incredibly stupid” act of revenge.
It was “extremely fortunate” that the landlord did not end up getting stabbed during the “incredibly dangerous” incident, Hull Crown Court heard. Grant, 48, of Skelton Garth, Pocklington, admitted offences of affray and possessing a blade on November 12.
Julia Baggs, prosecuting, said that Grant had previously been barred from the Black Swan pub in Pocklington after earlier problems there. During that incident, he had thrown stones, which hit and damaged a car.
On the evening of the latest incident, the landlord became aware of someone throwing stones at the back of the building. “He went to see who was throwing stones,” said Miss Baggs.
He saw Grant, who was hiding in a bush. The landlord approached Grant, who lunged forward with a knife in his hand, swinging it towards his face. The landlord put his arms up to try to defend himself and took Grant to the ground.
“Other people came out of the pub to try to help him,” said Miss Baggs. “The knife was dropped.” Grant was restrained and the police were alerted.
“There was a risk of serious disorder here,” said Miss Baggs. “There was an intention to cause a very serious fear of violence.”
Grant was arrested at 9.15pm and he was taken to Clough Road police station, Hull. He had convictions for five previous offences, mainly for driving matters. His most recent previous conviction was for aggravated vehicle taking in 2020.
Amber Hobson, mitigating, said that Grant pleaded guilty and he had confessed: “I don’t know what was going through my head.” He was frustrated at being barred from the pub.
“This was an incredibly stupid incident,” said Miss Hobson. “He has said that he will never repeat this behaviour. The defendant is incredibly sorry and has expressed what seemed to be sincere remorse.
“He can understand the harm and emotional distress it would have caused.” Grant had been out of trouble for about six years.
He lost his job about four years ago and had been struggling to find work. He had been free of alcohol for four weeks.
Judge Richard Woolfall told Grant: “You had previously been barred from that public house. The reality is that a landlord or licensee is entitled to bar whoever they want.
“You seem to have harboured a grudge about being barred. You came back in the evening and took with you a kitchen knife.
“You waited outside in the car park and threw further stones to get the attention of the landlord. You emerged from hiding in a bush and swung towards him with that knife.
“He was able to deploy force to defend himself and took you to the ground. You dropped the knife. It’s extremely fortunate that the knife didn’t stab him.
“The public are rightly concerned about offences of knife crime. There’s no safe place to be stabbed. A person can die from a stab wound anywhere in the body.
“I really don’t know what got into you to go out with a knife, lie in wait and then lunge towards him. This was incredibly dangerous. You lunged towards his face with the knife.
“Appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody. I’m afraid it’s just too serious for it to be anything other than an immediate sentence of custody.”
Grant, who had been on bail, was jailed for 13 months.
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