Gainsborough: Man armed himself with pub umbrella

Thomas Gaskin, 42, of Summergangs Lane, admitted picking up the bottom half of a parasol after trouble flared outside the George Hotel in Spilsby.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Gaskin was still carrying the pole as he tried to push away a man who he believed had made threats to his brother.

David Outerside, prosecuting, told the court no witnesses had come forward to give evidence, but the incident had been caught on camera.

“The case rests almost entirely on close circuit television,” he said.

The court was shown CCTV footage in which Gaskin could be seen wearing a light hooded top and dark trousers.

“Mr Gaskin picks up the bottom half of a white umbrella pole and arms himself with it,” Mr Outerside added.

The court heard Gaskin was not involved as the violence moved inside pub but was again caught on CCTV outside the pub.

“He raises his arms in an intimidating gesture to somebody in the pub,” Mr Outerside said.

Gaskin was arrested after police were called but claimed he was acting in defence of himself and his brother.

The court heard Gaskin had 17 convictions for 45 offences and was previously sentenced to six years in a young offenders institution for robbery.

David Stanton, defending, said although Gaskin’s record showed he resorted to violence from ‘time to time’ he had stayed out of trouble for 13 months.

He told the court Gaskin only became involved on this occasion because he believed his brother had been assaulted.

“He has not committed any other offences since which speaks well of him,” he added.

Gaskin admitted section four public disorder following the incident on 7th September last year.

He was sentenced to a one year community order, 60 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £150 costs.

Passing sentence Judge Michael Heath told him: “I have seen the part you played on CCTV. By your plea you accept on that evening you acted out of order.”