Darlington thug bit William Stead bar manager during melee

Mark Welch was drinking in the William Stead in Darlington town centre when he was told to drink up and leave, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The 44-year-old was still drinking 20 minutes later and the manager demanded that he leave before following him outside to ensure he left the premises.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said the manager thought Welch was going to urinate against the entrance to the kitchen before the violent confrontation started.

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The court heard how another member of staff believed the defendant was going to attack his colleague and grabbed hold of him before a melee ensued.

Mr Dryden added: “The bar manager followed him and told him to leave, it was at this point that he became aggressive and said - ‘I will put your head through those railings’ and ‘I will smash your f****** face in’.

“It was at this point another bar worker intervened as he thought the defendant was going to attack his colleague. He pushed him to the floor and started to restrain him with the help of the bar manager.

“While this was going on he bit the hand of the bar manager.”

The William Stead in Darlington

The judge heard that when police arrived to arrest Welch, they searched his pockets and found a three-inch lock knife.

Welch, of Geneva Road, Darlington, was found guilty at magistrates’ court of assault after he pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article.

Emma Williams, mitigating, said her client still denies assaulting the bar manager but does accept the jury’s verdict.

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She added that Welch was in ill health and taking methadone while he continued his battle against heroin addiction.

Judge Jonathan Carroll locked the defendant up for a total of eight months for biting the bar manager while under the influence of alcohol.

He said: “You may not be in the best of health but you were strong enough and healthy enough to look for a fight.”

Welch was also issued with a ten-year restraining order to keep out of the William Stead pub.