A judge told them: ‘You all behaved disgracefully. It’s not fair to people out socialising and behaving themselves’
From left – Thomas Manson, Natalie Burgin, Zoe Temple, and Robert Hearn (Image: Hull Live)
Violent scenes erupted at a Bridlington pub late at night when a “heated exchange” suddenly turned nasty and two women started “fanning the flames” with a group of men. Others became involved in a series of “disgraceful” confrontations and a man was left with a fractured eye socket, Hull Crown Court heard.
Zoe Temple, 48, of Stottlebink, Flamborough, near Bridlington, and Natalie Burgin, 49, of Rudston Road, Burton Agnes, near Bridlington, as well as Thomas Manson, 21, of Autumn Close, Bridlington, and Robert Hearn, 50, of Nightingale Road, Bridlington, all admitted affray on November 5, 2023. Hearn originally denied the offence but he later changed his plea.
Harry Bradford, prosecuting, said that the trouble erupted at a pub in Martongate, Bridlington, at about 11pm. Temple, Burgin and Hearn were drinking together.
They were “loud, drinking and noticeably drunk”. Manson was in a separate group. “It’s not clear how the incident began,” said Mr Bradford.
Temple, Burgin and Hearn made their way out of the pub. Temple and Hearn went over to a car. Burgin walked towards a group of young males and seemed to be talking to them.
“Manson was in this group of males,” said Mr Bradford. “Burgin went over to Temple and Hearn and seemed to tell them something.
“Burgin and Hearn went back over to the males and there appeared to be some heated exchange, with Hearn pointing at the males. Burgin and Hearn then walked back over to the car.
“At this point, it seems matters could have ended with Temple, Burgin and Hearn leaving. Unfortunately, Temple, Burgin and Hearn went back over to the males.”
An employee of the pub later said that Temple and Burgin were “fanning the flames” of the trouble by encouraging the males to become aggressive. Temple pushed one of the males and Burgin pushed another.
Temple and Burgin had a heated exchange with the males. Burgin pushed a male, went up to another and punched him. “She was pushed to the floor by that male,” said Mr Bradford.
“Temple also ended up on the floor. Hearn came over aggressively.” Manson was not involved in the pushing but he was seemingly “in the wrong place” when standing by the door. Hearn chased him into the pub and punched him in the face.
“Manson struck back with three punches,” said Mr Bradford. “Hearn was pushed to the floor by another male. Manson punched Hearn a couple of times while Hearn was on his knees.
“Manson kicked Hearn to his chest area and then punched him twice to the head area. Hearn got up and there was one further punch from Manson.
“The physical violence between the pair appeared to end, although it is clear that heated words were exchanged between them.”
Burgin shouted aggressively at a male and pushed him up against a wall. She went outside and she and Temple were shouting at the males. “Burgin went to hit a male, who held up his hands in a defensive, ‘calm down’ gesture,” said Mr Bradford.
Hearn went back outside and seemed to try to get involved in another confrontation but another male pushed him away. “Temple started pushing that person,” said Mr Bradford.
Temple, Burgin and Hearn seemed to be aggressively shouting at people, with Temple and Burgin pushing people. Later, Temple and Burgin started arguing with the girlfriend of one of Manson’s group.
They started fighting and all of them ended up on the ground. Hearn got into a black Mercedes, reversed it and drove several times towards a grass verge, where the fight was.
The police were alerted and Hearn was arrested that evening. Temple, Burgin and Manson attended voluntary interviews. Hearn suffered bruised eyes and a fractured right eye socket bone.
Temple had convictions for eight previous offences, including multiple assaults on police and drunken disorderly behaviour. Her most recent offence was for assaulting police in 2013.
Burgin had convictions for three offences, including assault and racially aggravated harassment on June 23 last year. Manson had no previous convictions.
Judge John Thackray KC said: “It was a disgraceful incident. When you get involved in arguing and fighting like this, things escalate very quickly. You might have felt you were justified.
“The right thing to do is walk away from trouble, not towards it. You all behaved disgracefully. It’s not fair to people out socialising and behaving themselves.
“They are sick and tired of this kind of violence when people are in drink. You have all pleaded guilty.” Temple and Burgin instigated the trouble at the very beginning, the court heard. Manson initially acted in self-defence but he went too far.
Temple was given 10 days’ rehabilitation and Burgin 15 days. Manson was given a two-year conditional discharge. At an earlier hearing, Hearn was also given a two-year conditional discharge.
Temple and Burgin must pay a £114 victims’ surcharge and Manson and Hearn a £26 surcharge.
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