TV Expert Sentenced For Covid Row Pub Headbutt

"Poor Northern Cousin": Young

A social media tv expert, who has worked on hit shows including ‘The Voice’ and ’Sunday Brunch’ headbutted a pub manager he believed treated him like a “second-class citizen.”

Middlesbrough-native Joel Young, 47, felt like a “poor Northern cousin” when seated in an unattractive spot at the south-west London gastropub, where a covid meal row occurred.

He rowed with staff at the Leather Bottle pub in Garrett Lane, Tooting over what amounted to a “substantial meal” after ordering sausage roll and chips with alcoholic drinks.

Young, of Felix Court, Charcot Road, Colindale was convicted of assaulting budding actor Skyla Bryant, causing him actual bodily harm, as he tried to enforce the pub’s covid drinking rules on December 5, 2020.

The victim was hospitalised with a cut to his eyebrow and redness to his nose, which was bent with evidence of a fracture.

Today at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court Young received a two-year Community Order, which includes 140 hours community service work and up to twenty-five days of a rehabilitation activity requirement.

Young, who ironically is suffering long covid, has also worked for ITN, Channel Four News and ‘First Dates Hotel’ and was upset that he and his drinking companion were refused more alcohol because they failed to order a meal.

The victim, Mr Bryant told the jury: “It was the evening and Joel Young and his friend ordered a basic sausage roll and fries, with maybe a scotch egg. 

“They claimed they had a substantial meal, but I encouraged them to place another order.

“They complained about the rules and I reminded them of the guidelines and things escalated from there.

“It was Joel Young that got angry and he continued the conversation, saying: “This is f***ing ridiculous, this is a substantial meal,” and continued to swear.

Budding Actor: Bryant

“He downed the rest of his pint and said: ‘bye then,’ and I said: ‘bye then,’ and he turned around on the spot and headbutted me in the face, in the nose.

“The top of his forehead landed on the bridge of my nose.”

Judge Laurence West-Knights KC told Young: “The circumstances of this assault are curious and concerning.

“You were having a drink in a pub with a friend and you were bristling with a propensity to take offence wherever you looked.

“You expressed extreme irritation at being treated, as you felt, like a ‘second-class citizen’ and ’Northerner’ in this pub.

“Mr Bryant asked if you would comply with the regulations and you took it that you were being treated like a ‘poor Northern cousin’.

“Additionally, that you had been seated by the door and were not receiving proper treatment because you were not spending huge chunks of money on food you didn’t need.

“Mr Bryant ordered you “off my premises” as you put it and say you felt he was looking to assault you out of sight of the security cameras.

“You felt you were being ordered about by a little man being a big man and you did not like being told what to do and you turned around and headbutted him.

“The headbutt is equivalent to use of a weapon, but there is a tiny element of possible doubt in your mind that you were about to be attacked and there was no serious physical injury.

“The victim was a trainee actor and he had some psychological concerns about his appearance afterwards and his acting future.

“You have now clearly expressed remorse and taking the many character references into account you have some elements of exemplary character.

Poor Seat: Young

“There is much good in you, but this behaviour has to stop. You have some quirks that you will have to address.” 

During the trial prosecutor Mr Francis Gaskin told the jury: “This was during covid and there were Tier Two restrictions in place at the time and customers needed to be having a substantial meal to be served alcohol.

“This defendant and his friend went to the Leather Bottle and ordered some drinks and some food, sausage roll and chips.

“The deputy manager, Mr Bryant looked at the food order and said it was not a substantial meal and the customers should go or order more food.

“Mr Young was not happy about this and was angry, is the prosecution’s case. He put his glass down firmly on the table and said he was leaving.

“He went to the door and there was a time when both men were close and Mr Young headbutted Mr Bryant, striking his face with the bridge of his nose.

“This was completely unnecessary, uncalled for, unlawful and unprovoked.

“The defence case is that he thought he was about to be attacked by Mr Bryant and used lawful force to defend himself.

“Nothing was done by Mr Bryant that would make anyone think he was going to assault anybody.”