Maidstone man attacked a barmaid and three police officers at The Stag pub in Middle Row
Published: 14:00, 11 November 2023
A man attacked a barmaid and three police officers after boozing during the day.
Robert Webber had been downing drinks with a group of friends at The Stag pub, becoming more agitated the more he drank.
He then started shouting and scuffling with people at the Maidstone town centre venue and was asked to leave or the police would be called.
But, instead of leaving the 23-year-old called the police himself telling the call handler he was being harassed and some people were trying to assault him.
As the police arrived, Webber was stood outside the venue in Middle Row, before running back inside the pub.
Officers followed him inside and he was wrestled to the floor by a member of the public.
When the police tried to arrest him, he kicked out at a female member of staff and kicked her in the stomach.
A scuffle ensured and as officers tried to put him in handcuffs, he kicked one in the knee, and spat at another, which missed, but then spat at another, which landed on the officer’s leg.
After being taken into custody and calmed down, Webber apologised for what he had done and told them there was no need to press any charges against him.
However, Webber of Boxley Road, Maidstone, was charged with three counts of assault on an emergency worker and one count of assault. He admitted all four offences when he appeared in the dock at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court.
Julie Farbrace, prosecuting, told the court the incidents happened on October 17, shortly after 1.20pm.
The court also heard the woman who had been kicked in the stomach considered herself a tough cookie, but had been reduced to tears at work over the incident.
Magistrates were also told Webber had genuinely felt he was being picked on by others at the pub, had apologised and had remorse as soon as he had committed the offences.
Webber suffered from ADHD and autism, lives in supported accommodation and has a support worker, the court was told.
The bench told him he had committed serious offences and the woman was badly affected by his actions and they were going to punish him by way of a financial penalty.
Webber was fined £180 on each offence of assault on an emergency worker and was also ordered to pay each of them £50 compensation.
He was also fined £120 for the assault on the worker and was ordered to pay her £100 compensation.
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KentOnline Court Reporter