Old Leake pub landlord suffered eye injury after he was kicked in head, court told

Joshua Paul Hickman, 23, of Caleb Hill Road, Old Leake has been committed to crown court for sentencing from Boston Magistrates court.

The attack caused a pupillary sphincter tear in the right eye of Edward Cummings, licensee of The Butcher’s Arms in the village.

Nick Todd, prosecuting, said the damage was so severe that Mr Cummings may have to declare the injury to the DVLA.

Hickman pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm on November 16 last year.

In mitigation, solicitor Mark Hudson said Hickman had very little recollection of the incident.

“It would seem that his sister and another were involved in a fight. The landlord came to pull her away and that’s when Mr Hickman became involved,” added Mr Hudson.

District judge Peter Veits told Hickman that he was “amazed” he was facing an ABH charge as kicking to the head can cause more serious outcomes.

He committed Hickman to sentence at Lincoln Crown Court on a date to be fixed and released him on unconditional bail.