Preston barmaid was abused by punter, court told

Dean Talbot, 37, of Studholme Avenue, Penwortham, Preston, admitted a public order offence relating to an incident at the Pear Tree Pub in Penwortham on February 22.

Prosecuting at Preston Magistrates’ Court, Rebecca Seymour said he entered the pub after being banned a month earlier.

At around 8.19pm a barmaid went into the garden area and said to him, lightheartedly: “I hope you are behaving yourself.”

He replied: “What do you f**king mean? I’m not barred from anywhere, I can go where I f***ing want.”

The court heard he was “animated” and waving his arms around.

When the barmaid went back outside at approximately 10pm, she claims he threatened to “smash her head in”.

She locked herself upstairs until he had been arrested.

Talbot pleaded guilty to the charge, admitting he made the ‘grass’ comment.

But he maintains he did not threaten to smash her head in.

Defending, James Ball told the court the barmaid was a new member of staff with a ‘reputation for winding customers up’.

He said Talbot and his partner had gone to the pub at 3pm to watch football.

He said: “ The barmaid had claimed he’d been barred, but he says he knew nothing about that.

“He had been being served by the staff all afternoon.

“He takes offence to that and does accept swearing towards her.

“Later on in the evening he does say she’s a ‘grassing ‘ b*****d.”

"I've been made aware there were customers in the pub who didn't have a clue at all anything was going on and that perhaps confirms Mr Talbot's version."

He said Talbot worked for his father-in-law's bin cleaning business.

He added: " He does apologise for any offence caused."

The bench imposed a fine of £66, with a £32 victim surcharge and £85 costs.