Monday 25 April 2022

"Intoxicated" Fashion Grad's Covid Mask Row

A drunken fashion graduate threw a Covid-19 warning sign and a glass picture frame at a bar worker when asked to wear a mask, a court heard today.

Kayla Jones, 26, was visibly intoxicated and insisted she was exempt from the mask mandate when greeted at The Rye pub, Peckham Rye on April 24, last year.


CCTV was played to Croydon Magistrates Court showing Jones flinging the laminated A4-sized sign, which was on an entrance table and the picture frame, smashing it.


Jones, of Goxhill Close, Birchwood Lincoln, whose ambitions to set up her own business within the fashion industry were wrecked by Covid, will return for sentencing on May 23.


She pleaded guilty to assaulting Sam Ayling; causing criminal damage to the pub’s property and being drunk and disorderly.


Prosecutor Corran Helme told the court it was 8.50pm when Jones entered the pub with a female friend.


“The staff member was greeting customers near the entrance and the defendant was asked to wear a face mask.”


The CCTV showed her friend was masked, but Jones was not.


“She said she was exempt and became agitated and loses control while visibly intoxicated,” explained the prosecutor.


“She picked-up the A4 sign, which was about wearing a mask, from the table and threw it at Mr Ayling.


“It bounces off his arm and then she pics up a picture frame and throws it at him and it smashes on the floor.”


The CCTV then showed Mr Ayling quickly pushing Jones out of the pub and blocking the door to prevent re-entry.


“It is hitting with the use of a weapon equivalent,” added Mr Helm. “There are two occasions when she throws the items at the complainant.”


The court heard the offences were “out of character” and Jones publicly apologised to both the victim and the court.


“We are going to need to know a little bit more about you,” said magistrate David Taylor, bailing Jones for a pre-sentence report on condition she does not enter The Rye pub.

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