A PENSIONER flooded the bar of a Colne hotel with Guinness in a midnight break-in, a court was told.
Ian Jeffrey had been staying at the Commercial Hotel when the manager found he had forced his way into the bar after closing time. Both the Guinness and Strongbow cider pumps were flowing and the area was flooded. Jeffrey asked the manager: “Where am I?”, Pennine magistrates heard.
The court was told how, after police arrived, Jeffrey (69) was aggressive, abusive and threatening, tried to hit an officer with his walking stick, struggled violently as he was being handcuffed and kicked out at another officer.
Jeffrey, a former police mechanic, is currently homeless.
He admitted burglary, police obstruction and assaulting PC Mark Whittaker on March 9th.
The defendant, who had been released from hospital just before he attended court, must pay £385 in fines, compensation and a victim surcharge.
Hilary Rees (prosecuting) said the bar had closed at about midnight, the manager left and, when he returned, heard the alarm sounding.
He noticed the door to the bar was open, found the bolt had been forced and saw Jeffrey standing in the flood.
Police arrived and, as the defendant was being put in a secure van, he called an officer a “blonde bitch”, and became aggressive, abusive and violent.
On the way to the police station, he threatened an officer and kicked out when he was being booked in.
Mrs Rees, who described the incident as “nasty”, said Jeffrey had been given a custodial sentence in January after being convicted of assault.
John Nuttall, for Jeffrey, said: “It’s a very sad situation.”
He added the defendant had never been in trouble until he was 64, when he had difficulties in his life, and that led him to drinking too much and committing a string of offences.
He was not in good health, did not have settled accommodation and had been living in guest houses and anywhere he could lay his head.
Mr Nuttall said the defendant had been staying at the Commercial, had gone into the pub after paying his £20 lodgings and had been drinking.
He had little recollection of what happened after. He had believed the bar was still open.
Jeffrey did not take anything, but the beer taps came on.
The solicitor continued: “During the course of his interview, he made full apologies to everyone concerned.”