Teenager sentenced after attacking man outside bar and then hitting him with metal bar

A TEENAGER has been spared a prison sentence for his role in two separate incidents – one of which involved a man being hit on the head with a metal bar.

Macauley Ellis was involved in two disturbing incidents within five months. In the other, he saw a man being kicked and punched outside a pub.

The 19-year-old appeared at Warrington Magistrates’ Court for sentencing; the co-defendants in both cases had already been convicted or were awaiting trial.

Ellis was charged with affray and possession of an offensive weapon in public in connection with one of the incidents, and threatening behaviour with intent to cause fear of violence and possession of cannabis in connection with the other incident.

Prosecutor Sarah McInerney explained the nature of the offences to the court, saying the first incident occurred on July 9 last year.

It was reported that officers from Cheshire Police were called to a disturbance on Southworth Avenue in Bewsey at 9.37pm.

The victim reported being attacked at his home address by being hit on the head with a metal bar.

As a result of the attack, he suffered a cut on his lip and an invisible swelling on his head.

Ellis admitted to possessing a metal bar as an offensive weapon and using or threatening to use unlawful violence in a public place, namely Southworth Avenue.

On 1 November, the defendant was convicted for his role in an altercation outside The Hop Pole pub in Warrington town centre.

At 3.24pm, a surveillance camera recorded a man being punched, kicked and dragged along the ground near the venue on Horsemarket Street.

The victim did not want to confront Cheshire Police, but the incident was caught on CCTV and arrests were made the next day.

Ellis admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to create the impression in the victim that unlawful violence was about to be used against him or her.

Nathan Heroe, 24, of Thornley Road in Lymm, was convicted in April for his role in the altercation.

Ellis was also charged with possession of a quantity of the controlled drug Class B cannabis in Warrington on 23 December.

Deputy District Judge Imran Hussain told the accused that the seriousness of the offences justified a prison sentence as the offences involved a weapon and other persons were present.

However, in view of his guilty plea, the personal mitigating circumstances offered by his lawyer and the finding that he had a “real prospect of rehabilitation”, the sentence was suspended.

Ellis, of Leicester Street, Bewsey, was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, including 30 days of rehabilitation activity.

He was also ordered to pay £300 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service and a statutory surcharge of £154, and an application to have the money deducted from his claim was granted.

In addition, the court approved an order to confiscate and destroy the metal mast.

Heroe was previously sentenced to a 12-month community sentence, including 15 rehabilitation days and 60 hours of unpaid work, after admitting the charge of threatening behaviour.

A co-defendant has pleaded not guilty to charges of affray and assault in connection with the incident in Bewsey and is due to stand trial next month.