Mayor guilty of pub assault
The reputation of a Staffordshire mayor has been tarnished after he was found guilty of assaulting a man in a city pub.
Lichfield's first citizen Mike Fryers faces an uncertain political career after being convicted of common assault following a confrontation in the city's King's Head pub.
Tamworth Magistrates Court was told Fryers leapt from his seat and lunged at Peter Cole following a dispute over lewd remarks which were allegedly made towards a woman. Mr Cole said he was "surprised" and felt "threatened" after being grabbed by the throat and pushed against a wall by the Conservative councillor for the Chadsmead ward.
King's Head bar assistant Steven Hughes said he had to put his arms around Fryers, who appeared "unsteady" on his feet, to pull him away from the 54-year-old victim.
The Mayor of Lichfield, who denied a charge of common assault, said he had consumed up to three pints of lager and a couple of glasses of wine but did not feel drunk.
Fryers, aged 60, said he had been drinking with Susannah Stanton, who was a former girlfriend of Mr Cole, and another man at the pub in Bird Street in the early hours of July 14. The victim of the assault claimed they heard negative comments towards Miss Stanton and went over to where they were sitting.
The court was told the other member of the group Michael Morgan then struck Mr Cole twice. He admitted his actions to police who issued a caution but Fryers, of Partridge Croft, Lichfield, denied any involvement.
Magistrates decided he was guilty of common assault yesterday and was given a 12-month conditional discharge but ordered him to pay £455 court costs and £75 compensation.
