The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Two men have each been fined £500 for their part in a brawl in a Spalding pub.
Niall Burton and Luke Preston were two of six people charged over the two-stage fight at The
Punchbowl in New Road.
Boston Magistrates’ Court heard on Wednesday that the disturbance “terrified” the landlady who
locked the doors afterwards.
It happened at about 4.30pm on Sunday, April 10 this year and was said to have started when one
man asked another to close a door and was told “in no uncertain terms” to shut it himself.
The court was shown CCTV footage of a punch-up in a corridor near the toilets and a second phase
of the row in the main bar, with chairs and glasses thrown.
Neither Burton (27) nor Preston (26) was involved much in the corridor but a short time later they
both set about punching 57-year-old Stephen Lane, who was sitting at a table with his 26-year-old
son, Daniel.
The Lanes fought back with items thrown. When Stephen Lane was knocked to the floor, Burton
kicked him three times around the upper body.
Burton, of School Lane, Lutton, and Preston, of Salts Road, West Walton, had both pleaded guilty to
affray at an earlier hearing.
Anita Toal, for Burton, said her client had no intention of getting into trouble that day, having gone
to the pub to watch football after a game of golf.
“He doesn’t know why he did it. Maybe drink played a part,” she added.
Oliver Barrett, for Preston, said: “Mr Preston’s involvement lasts about two or three seconds but it’s
two or three seconds that put him on the wrong side of the law.
“He made a bad decision that day and understands he must be punished for it.”
The two defendants had no previous convictions. They were fined the same amount and Burton was
also given a 12-month community order with 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirements.
They were each told to pay £85 costs and £50 victim surcharge.
Stephen and Daniel Lane, both of Greenwich Avenue, Holbeach, denied affray when they appeared
at the same court recently.
Their trial is due to take place in February, along with two other co-accused.
