Disabled Movie-Goer Headbutted Cinema Usher During Legroom Row

A disabled cinema-goer, unhappy about the amount of legroom in the auditorium, headbutted the member of staff who had shown him to the designated area.

Disabled Yves Marie, 47, (pictured) shouted: “There's no fucking legroom,” at the Odean theatre and attacked the staff member, who he felt had brushed off his complaint.

Marie, of Orchard Court, Bell Green, Sydenham pleaded guilty at Bromley Magistrates' Court to assaulting Paul Quinlan at the Beckenham cinema on May 18.

The court heard the defendant immediately expressed his unhappiness at where he was seated and got up and headbutted Mr. Quinlan on the nose, causing it to bleed.

The victim also suffered bruising and swelling to his lip.

The police were called and Marie told officers he felt Mr. Quinlan had been flippant with him and had muttered something under his breath once the complaint was made.

He told police: “I know I've done wrong.”

District Judge Leonard Fanning bailed Marie until August 20 for a probation report.

He told the defendant: “Headbutting someone acting in the course of their job is a serious matter.

“You caused significant injury by using your head. It is treated like using a weapon.”