Hunstanton man Karl Darby assaulted worker at The Wash and Tope in Hunstanton

A man’s drunken outburst saw him assault a worker in a town hotel.

Karl Darby, 54, of Westgate in Hunstanton, was sentenced at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday following an incident at The Wash and Tope in September.

He pleaded guilty to assault by beating, as well as using threatening and abusive behaviour to cause alarm or distress.

On the day of his offences, he became verbally abusive to his ex-partner, who worked at the Hunstanton venue.

He referred to her as a “sl*g”, and she subsequently asked him to leave.

He returned a short while later, and the woman approached her boss for help. Darby followed them into the kitchen area, and refused to vacate the premises.

Darby subsequently pushed the manager up against the wall, and in the ensuing scuffle, he sustained a cut to his finger.

He eventually left The Wash and Tope, but was arrested afterwards at his home.

Crown prosecutor Stephen Munton told the court that Darby was angry his ex-partner had moved on from him, but was “embarrassed by his behaviour”.

He added that the pair now hope to get back together, and she had signalled her opposition to any prosecution.

Defending, duty solicitor Andrew Cogan joked: “Sir, I hate it when the prosecution does my mitigation.”

He said that Darby, who was of previous good character, suffers from mental health issues.

“He does have alcohol problems and has referred to CGL (Change, Grow, Live),” he added.

Magistrates handed Darby a six-month conditional discharge, while he will also pay £100 in compensation to the man he assaulted, a £26 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.