AN ANGRY pub customer punched a man and knocked his tooth out after accusing him of suggesting that he was “fat” during banter. 

The victim of 44-year-old Michael Anderson’s violence lost one tooth and sustained serious damage to another, forcing him to undergo dental treatment costing almost £5,000, the city’s Rickergate court heard.

During a 20 minute hearing, Anderson, of Whiteclosegate, Carlisle, admitted an assault causing actual bodily harm.

Pam Ward, prosecuting, said the victim and the defendant had both been enjoying an evening out at The Crown & Thistle pub in Stanwix on the evening of October 9 last year.

There was banter during the evening involving both parties.

After one comment, the defendant asked the victim if he was suggesting that he was fat, prompting the man to reply that this was not what he said. But the defendant became “increasingly irritated,” said the victim.

He told police: “He was too far away to punch me but he stepped towards me and punched me with his fist, making contact with my face.

“I felt a tooth come loose and fall; he must have hit me with extreme force to knock a tooth out. I was in shock.” The man said he instinctively punched back but said he had not expected to be hit.

People who were in the pub wrestled the defendant to the floor. After this, the victim returned to the room to look for his missing tooth and found it before going home. A second tooth was cracked in the attack, he said.

Since being assaulted, the injury has had a huge impact on his life, he said.

He had faced having to explain his missing tooth to family, friends and colleagues and he needed to make repeated trips to the dentist for treatment, which to date has cost £4,788, with a further £2,000 of treatment costs expected.

“It has been a massive inconvenience,” said the man.

He has also had to take time away from work.

The victim, who is claiming compensation from the defendant through the prosecution process, added that he was troubled by thoughts of wishing that he hadn’t gone out that night, or to that pub.

Defence lawyer Chris Toms said this was a case that clearly required a background report on the defendant before sentence is passed. Magistrates ruled that Anderson will face that sentencing hearing on April 26.

In the meantime, he was granted bail.