A PENRITH man was brought to court after pushing a bar manager and punching her partner as trouble flared at his own 40th birthday party.

Gareth Hutton, 40, appeared in front of magistrates following an incident at the town’s cricket club on 11th November last year.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre told the court hearing in Carlisle that the bar manager had been working at the party.

Hutton “took exception” to comments made by the manager about a gathering of children.

During a subsequent incident in the club, Hutton pushed the bar manager backwards, causing her to fall to the floor.

The woman’s partner had sought to get between the woman and Hutton, and saw the push on her before he, too, was assaulted. “He punched me with a clenched fist to the right side of my face,” said the man, who spoke of bleeding in the aftermath. “I felt very dazed and light-headed, and wasn’t really sure what was going on.”

The man later received medical treatment having suffered bruising, swelling and a cut to his nose.

Hutton, of Barco Terrace, Penrith, was arrested. “To his credit, he made full admissions in interview when the circumstances were put to him,” said the prosecutor.

In court, Hutton admitted assaulting both the woman and man by beating.

Speaking in his own defence during the hearing, Hutton spoke about events leading up to the offences.

“It was my birthday party,” he confirmed. He described both the woman and man being “in my face”. Hutton said he struck out after the man “threw a punch at me”, although that “punch” claim was not accepted by the prosecution.

“Police arrived at the scene. I got arrested for it,” he told the court.

Hutton also produced a video clip on his phone which captured part of the incident and was taken into account by magistrates.

Hutton, a machine operator, was fined £580 and ordered to pay £200 compensation to the man he assaulted. He must also pay a £232 mandatory surcharge and £85 prosecution costs