A Cumbrian man has been jailed for spitting in the face of a bar worker, who asked him to leave the pub he was already barred from.
Aaron McEwan, 29, of Kirkland Avenue, Wigton, was convicted of assault by beating following a recent trial at Carlisle Magistrates' Court.
The trial proceeded in McEwan's absence. On his conviction a warrant was granted for his arrest.
McEwan appeared in custody before the same court on Tuesday, 22nd April 2025.
Assault by beating, an offence contrary to section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, has a maximum sentence of 26 weeks' custody on summary conviction. You can read more about this offence in my earlier article.
Magistrates heard that despite being barred from the premises, the 29-year-old attended a Wigton pub shortly before last orders on Sunday, 5th May 2024.
A bar worker asked McEwan to leave, which resulted in him making an offensive comment towards her and spitting towards her shoes.
McEwan was then escorted from the pub, but the altercation continued outside. The woman pushed McEwan away and he responded by spitting in her face and threatening to "batter" her.
Diane Jackson, prosecuting, continued: "She said she felt disgusted by the incident.
"She feared Mr McEwan. She knows what he can be like. He was in a bad state due to intoxication."
In a victim personal statement the woman, who no longer works at the pub, said: "I don't think I will ever consider pub or bar work in the future. I have zero tolerance of drunk or intoxicated people."
McEwan has a history of offending whilst in drink. He had recently been released from prison and was said to be complying well with drug testing and an alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement.
Addressing the Bench, McEwan said that him and the victim had set aside their differences and were now "sound".
"I do apologise for the way I acted," he said. "I am glad we're friends now."
Magistrates were of the view that McEwan's offence was so serious that only a custodial sentence was appropriate.
He was sentenced to 12 weeks' immediate custody and ordered to pay £100 in compensation.
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