A man punched a barmaid, breaking her nose, during a drunken dispute in a popular town centre pub. 

Michael Newell, 64, lashed out during an incident at the historic timber-framed Cross Keys pub in Wymondham on June 10 2023. 

The car repair firm worker, of Ketts Avenue in Wymondham, claimed he had acted in self-defence but was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm after a trial in August this year. 

Prosecutor Nicola Lamb told Norwich Magistrates’ Court he had pushed the staff member before punching her, resulting in facial injuries. 

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His defence solicitor said it had been a “one-off, spontaneous incident”.

“He is sorry for what happened. He has had a great deal of time to reflect on what happened and I don’t think he will be back before the court,” they added.

He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 100 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £764 costs and £200 compensation to the barmaid. 

Magistrates declined an application for a restraining order banning him from the pub, saying it was: “Neither proportionate nor necessary.”