A DOORMAN and his friend were glassed by a drunken reveller who hurled a pint glass at them as celebrations erupted into violence.

The group of four friends had been drinking to celebrate their triumph in a skittles final but the mood soured when they were refused alcohol and asked to leave The Flag in Lowesmoor, Worcester.

Anthony Chilton admitted two offences of wounding (section 20) after he threw a glass which struck Simeon Puckering and rebounded off his head, striking doorman Anthony Butler, leaving both men cut and bloodied.

The 41-year-old of Westbourne Close, St John’s, Worcester, also admitted affray following the incident at the bar on April 1 this year.

His friends Craig Ellis, aged 32, of Gorse Hill Road, Brickfields, Worcester, Craig Fenson, aged 32, of Goldsmith Road, Brickfields, Worcester, and Michael Hartshorne, aged 38, of Glenthorne Avenue, Brickfields, Worcester, all admitted affray. Fenson also admitted criminal damage after a doorman’s jacket was ripped in the struggle at the bar, known as a popular venue for Worcester’s LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community.

Kriss Ewing, prosecuting, said officers were called to the Flag after reports of fighting inside the premises, One of the group had been escorted through a corridor towards the door after being placed in an arm lock by a member of the doorstaff.

Miss Ewing said: “There were around 11 people in the corridor, pushing and shoving and two of them trying to resist being ejected.”

Chilton, who was some way behind the rest of the group, then threw the pint glass. Ms Ewing said: “He’s taken the pint glass and thrown it directly at Mr Puckering’s head and caused bleeding to the right side of Mr Puckering’s temple. The glass has shattered and reflected onto Mr Butler’s head, hitting him on the left eye, causing that to bleed as well.”

The violence than spilled out into the street and Fenson attempted to get back into the pub but was prevented and this was when the doorman’s jacket was ripped. Fenson was taken to the ground and restrained, the court was told.

Ellis had no previous convictions. Chilton has previous convictions for assault occasioning actual bodily harm dating back to 1996 and a drink drive conviction from 2016.

Hartshorne has a conviction for drink driving from 2008 and criminal damage from 2010. Fenson has a previous convictions for criminal damage, malicious communication, racially aggravated public order and failing to comply with a community order.

Barry Newton, for Ellis, said his client, a father-of-two, had ‘never been in trouble in his life’ and asked that he be given credit for his early guilty plea .

Mr Newton said Ellis had been trying to extricate his pregnant sister from the situation. He accepted pushing and shoving because he had left his jacket inside the pub which contained his keys. Mr Newton added: “He’s ashamed of being in court.”

Jennifer McDowall, for Hartshorne, said he had limited previous convictions and had not been involved with the incident with the glass. Ms McDowall added: “He’s very ashamed of his actions. He can’t believe a night that started so well has ended so badly.”

Ms McDowall, also for Fenson, said: “He had consumed quite a large quantity of alcohol. He has a very patchy recollection of what happened on that night.”

Jo Outhwaite for Chilton said the father-of-three had entered a timely guilty plea and asked that he be given credit for that.

She added: “He did consume considerably more alcohol than is the norm for him.” After viewing the CCTV, Chilton had become ‘extremely upset’.

Mrs Outhwaite added: “He was sickened by watching what had happened and having to accept he had behaved in such a way. There's very clear remorse on his part. He's thoroughly ashamed of being here."

She stressed that both injured men struck by the glass did not require medical attention. Chilton had not touched alcohol since the offence, she told the court.

Mrs Outhwaite said CCTV shows Chilton put his arms around one of the complainants after the incident 'as if apologising for what has just happened'.

Magistrates declined jurisdiction for the sentencing of Chilton. He was given unconditional bail to appear at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, October 13.

A pre-sentence report will be prepared by the probation service in advance.

All defendants were each fined £450, ordered to pay costs of £185 and a victim surcharge of £45 for their role in the affray. Fenson was further ordered to pay £100 compensation for the damage to the jacket.