Drinkers boycotted their local after a drunk yob kept biting customers in a melee in which he smashed an expensive window.
Joshua Nolan, 22, was caught on CCTV becoming increasingly "rowdy and aggressive" inside The Stork Hotel on July 20, eventually hurling a brick at the pub. When people tried to calm him down, Nolan sank his teeth into the nose of a man and the ring finger of another.
But Nolan wasn't finished — and spat blood into the face of a responding police officer. The melee led to some pub-goers boycotting the Birkenhead watering hole, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Court hears details of the assault
Iain Criddle, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday that the assaults were "a nasty and unpleasant way of inflicting an injury on someone", while the presiding judge branded Nolan's behaviour "a disgusting and unsanitary act".
The court heard Nolan was drinking alone, but as he consumed more alcohol he became more boisterous. Mr Criddle said: "At one point he went outside, took a brick and threw it at a pub window, causing it to smash. It was quite an ornate window."
"As a result of his behaviour other customers decided to calm the defendant down. Christopher Matthews tried to calm him down and as he did so the defendant took hold of his head, pulled it towards him and bit him on the nose."
"He received a red and swollen nose and had to go to hospital for Hepatitis B injections. The injury is unpleasant. As a result, other people became involved."
"The defendant fell to the floor and Ian Moore tried to detain him by holding him down. Not content on the nose bite, he bit down on the ring finger of Mr Moore and didn't let go. Mr Moore described the intense pain."
The court was told that Merseyside Police were called to the scene and Nolan was eventually detained with PAVA incapacitant spray. However, Mr Criddle said Nolan then spat "saliva, blood and the remains of the PAVA spray" into the face of PC Sanderson as he was being held.
Impact on the pub and previous convictions
Neither the two bitten men nor the police officer provided victim impact statements to the court. Yet, Joanne Ireland, landlady at The Stork Hotel, informed the court that running a pub was already challenging, but Nolan's actions had resulted in a "serious impact on her business".
The court heard that the smashed window was costly and rare, with the repairs amounting to over £1,100 plus VAT. Ms Ireland stated that Nolan had "affected the confidence of customers and given the pub an unwarranted bad name". She added that she had lost regulars as a result of the defendant's behaviour.
The court was informed that Nolan, of Green Lane in South Shields, had 17 previous convictions for 29 offences. These included past instances of criminal damage; assault, including against police officers; and affray. He was under a suspended sentence order at the time of the pub offences.
Mitigation and sentencing
In mitigation, Sam Faulks, for Nolan, said: "He is pretty appalled by his behaviour and wants me to apologise for that. When sober he recognises it is appalling, but when in drink he can't stop himself."
"He was alone, he had completed work only a short time before at the ship yard, and candidly, he can't remember a great deal of that night. He is deeply sorry for it."
Mr Faulks said Nolan had previously engaged significantly with the Probation Service following the 2025 suspended sentence. The court heard as part of his requirements on that sentence he had to complete 15 rehabilitation days, but had instead done four more than needed.
"His behaviour in Birkenhead was that of a thug," Mr Faulks said. "Nonetheless, there is a wholly different side to his character and a sentence could recognise that and not snub out any hope and aspirations he has for the future."
Nolan's lawyer added there was no challenge against a five-year restraining order preventing him from returning to the pub. "Mr Nolan doesn't want to go back to Birkenhead, no disrespect to the good people there," said Mr Faulks. "He is keen to come back to the north east of England."
Sentencing, Judge Brian Cummings KC, told Nolan: "I accept there is a better side to you. You like to work, that is an attractive factor...I accept you are not a lost cause. What you have done previously will not make people write you off. Far from it."
Nolan, appearing via video link from HMP Altcourse in a pink Fred Perry polo shirt and with dark, cropped hair, was handed a two-year prison sentence. The judge said this comprised 16 months for the pub offences and an additional eight months triggered by the "failed" suspended sentence.
