A MAN who twice attacked the gay landlord of a pub was today jailed for a year.
Michael Wood was originally barred from the Crown Hotel in Uppingham after making a series of "unpleasant remarks" to licensee Alan Pickersgill.
But the 40-year-old refused to accept the ban and returned to the pub, in High Street East, last Septem
ber, Leicester Crown Court heard.
Wood, of Branston Road, Uppingham, angrily branded Mr Pickersgill and his male partner "poofs" before grabbing Mr Pickersgill around the throat.
Alan Murphy, prosecuting, said: "He called him a 'Yorkshire poof' and said he would 'have him'. The complainant was left somewhat shocked."
Wood, who was ushered out of the pub by staff and customers, was eventually arrested and quizzed about the incident two months later.
But in June, just four days before he was due to go on trial for common assault, he went back to the pub and hit Mr Pickersgill in the face.
Mr Murphy told the court: "He was asked to leave by another member of staff, but he returned and asked to shake Mr Pickersgill's hand.
"Mr Pickersgill reminded him they had a court case coming up and refused to do so. The defendant's response was to punch him in the face."
Mr Pickersgill, who took over the pub in March last year, suffered a cut lip and reddening to the side of his face as a result of the attack.
Wood was convicted by magistrates of the first common assault and pleaded guilty to the second common assault and witness intimidation.
He was jailed for 12 months and ordered to stay away from the pub for two years after the court heard he had a long-standing drink problem.
Passing sentence, Judge Simon Hammond told him: "We live in a tolerant society and homophobic remarks are totally unacceptable.
"These two incidents must have been very upsetting. People are entitled to go out for a quiet drink without this sort of thing going on."
Simon Ash, defending, said Wood, who has previous convictions for offences including affray and dishonesty, wanted to make a "clean start".
