'Totally unnecessary': Two men in court for assault on man outside pub

Elliott Owen and Nathan Baker dished out the attack on Marcus Blyth in a late night incident at the Fiveways pub in Charminster Road, Bournemouth.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard the complainant was fortunate to only suffer superficial wounds to his head after being punched and kicked.

Owen, aged 20, and Baker, aged 30, both pleaded guilty to affray and appeared in the dock for sentencing on Monday, February 14.

Prosecutor Mike Mason said Mr Blyth had been drinking with a friend at the pub on June 16 last year.

The Fiveways pub

He was approached by Owen who asked for a cigarette, but he refused to give one to the defendant.

The prosecution said Baker, pictured above, then launched an unprovoked attack on the complainant with punches and kicks.

Mr Mason said Mr Blyth was punched to the face but he did not know whether it was one or both men who assaulted him in this way.

The prosecution said the complainant broke free and went into the pub, while two men were seen running across the Fiveways roundabout away from the scene.

Mr Blyth went to hospital for treatment and was assessed as having superficial wounds to his head.

The court heard Baker, of no fixed abode, accepted there was punching and kicking of the complainant a “few times”.

Nathan Baker

Owen, previously of Hill Street, Poole, had “transformed his life” since the offence and was now living in Guernsey with his father.

Judge Brian Forster QC said Baker had “effectively served a 12 month sentence”, having been remanded in custody.

While his circumstances were “very different” compared to Owen, the judge said the 12 month sentence he imposed on Baker should allow for his immediate release from custody. Owen meanwhile was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment in a young offenders institution, suspended for 12 months.

The judge ordered Baker to pay £200 compensation, while Owen was told to pay £400. Both defendants also had to pay a £156 surcharge.

Judge Forster QC said: “You became involved in a totally unnecessary assault upon another person. Fortunately the person did not suffer the most serious of injuries.”