Boston Magistrates Court as seen on Google Streetview

Court told man involved in pub brawl was ‘picked on’

A Spalding man got involved in a dispute with a group described as ‘travellers’ after going out to a pub on the first day they were opened after lockdown last year, a court has heard.

Luke Joshua Purvis, 24, of Laburnum Grove admitted threatening behaviour when he appeared at Boston Magistrate Court.

Prosecuting, Lynn Bickley said that at 10pm on July 4, there was a disturbance outside the Lincolnshire Poacher pub in Double Street.

She said Purvis was seen on CCTV images to have been punched by another man but his reactions went beyond that of self defence.

She said he was seen to raise his fists, throw a glass of beer and to pick up a table bench and push it towards the others involved.

Mitigating, David Eager said this had been the first day after lockdown and Purvis, like many others, had gone out for a drink.

He said that ‘so did a group of travellers who were looking for trouble’ and that ‘they picked on Luke Purvis’.

He said they squared up to him and he threw a pint glass of beer at them.

“He could have gone home but he didn’t,” he said “and he picked up a table and threw it at them and he shouldn’t have.”

He said the others involved could clearly be seen on the CCTV images but that they were “facing no punishment but Mr Purvis is”.

Purvis was given an 18 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £107 in court costs and charges.

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