Chef sentenced for assault at the Raven, Welshpool, Powys

Jed Robertson, 28, had without warning punched David Laycock several times in the eye, head and chest at The Raven Inn before being wrestled to the ground. He was sacked on the spot.

Robertson was sentenced to 30 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay £500 compensation to Mr Laycock after pleading guilty to causing actual bodily harm.

His Honour Judge Rhys Rowlands said: "Knuckle down, grow up and frankly don't get yourself into these situations in future."

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Mold Crown Court heard on Monday (March 27) that Mr Laycock, who is the director of several pubs in the area, went over to The Raven Inn at around 4pm on Sunday, May 22, last year after receiving a phone call from the restaurant's head chef about issues between Robertson and another member of staff, Shannon Shane.

Prosecuting barrister Karl Scholz told the court that a customer had made a complaint after hearing some of the language used by Robertson towards Miss Shane. Mr Laycock drew them to one side and at the smoking shelter asked for Robertson's side of the story first.

"The defendant was clearly frustrated, agitated and anxious," Mr Scholz said.

Mr Laycock asked Miss Shane to give her account when Robertson became "aggressive and interruptive".

Mr Scholz said: "Mr Laycock asked the defendant to stop swearing and interfering, and without warning he was punched in the eye, head and chest a number of times, around six punches were thrown.

"Mr Laycock managed to get hold of the defendant and wrestled him to the ground and he was able to calm the defendant down."

After Mr Laycock told Robertson to collect his stuff and go, the sous chef told him to "keep your f****** job", then walked into the kitchen and said, "you don't have to f****** babysit me".

A victim impact statement written by Mr Laycock said that almost a year after being taken to A&E for his bloodied eye, swollen ear and pains to his body, that he continues to feel nervous about getting himself into a similar state at work with resolving issues between staff.

Defence barrister Gemma Gordon told the court that Robertson was originally remanded in custody for 15 days and was granted bail with an electronic tag curfew which lasted 290 days. He now has a new job lined up in Devon but intends to live with his partner in Welshpool on weekends.

His Honour Judge Rhys Rowlands told Robertson that the argument had caused a "pretty explosive loss of temper" which resulted in a much older man, who was his employer, being repeatedly punched in front of Miss Shane who was "so alarmed" that she ran off to get help.

Judge Rowlands reminded Robertson of his conviction for common assault five years ago: "This behaviour is not out of character. Plainly over the years you are prone to aggressive outbursts.

"But plainly you are a very hard worker through agencies of catering establishments. You are in a relationship and stayed out of trouble since the incident."

Raising current issues such as the after effects of Covid in prisons and overcrowding, the judge added: "It is possible to draw back from sending you to prison and I will make a suspended sentence order instead. You were on an electronic tag for a significant time."

Robertson, of High Roads, South Shields, near Newcastle, was given a three-year restraining order not to go back to The Raven Inn or go near David Laycock, Shannon Shane and Zak Tipton.