A former security guard decided to take matters into his own hands after trying to chat up a stranger’s girlfriend in a Wetherspoons pub. The court heard that Danny Williams punched a man to the floor in a cowardly attack, then went on to assault another man just days later. The incident took place last August in Dover when Williams approached Philip Hackett’s partner at The Eight Bells pub. After Mr. Hackett returned from the toilet, Williams threatened him, warning that he wouldn’t see tomorrow. The situation escalated as Williams followed the couple to another pub, the Dizzy Donkey, where he delivered a sudden blow to Mr. Hackett, knocking him to the ground.
The attack was captured on video footage showing Williams catching up to the couple and striking Mr. Hackett from behind, causing him to fall. Fortunately, Mr. Hackett managed to get up and move away from Williams, despite hitting his head on a bollard. Just three days later, Williams found himself in another altercation at the Dizzy Donkey when he tried to punch bar manager Ben Pillott but missed and fell over. Williams, a 59-year-old from Dover, was charged with common assault and assault by beating. He pleaded guilty to both offenses at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on April 2, escaping jail time but receiving a community order and compensation orders.
In court, Neil Sweeney, the prosecutor, detailed the events leading up to the assaults. He explained that Williams had a history of violence and had previously been banned from other establishments. The victim impact statements revealed the physical and emotional toll the attacks had taken on Mr. Hackett and Mr. Pillott. Mr. Hackett mentioned that the punch could have been fatal if it had landed slightly higher, while Mr. Pillott expressed fear of encountering Williams again at his bar. Despite Williams’ guilty plea and acknowledgment of his actions, his defense lawyer, Debbie Pizzey, emphasized his struggles with alcohol and emotional issues. She highlighted his separation from his daughter and strained relationships with his sons, as well as his ongoing knee injury and pending surgery.
The court decided to place Williams on a 12-month community order to address his alcohol problems and mental health decision-making. He was also required to attend rehabilitation sessions and pay compensation to the victims. Despite requests for a restraining order, magistrates deemed it unnecessary. Williams had been barred from most establishments since the incidents, and probation would provide the necessary support to help him overcome his challenges. The sentencing aimed to rehabilitate Williams and prevent further violent incidents in the future.
