A WESTON man grabbed a women’s groin and attacked three other people in a gay bar, a court was told.

Steven McGarvie, of Amberey Road, was sentenced after admitting four counts of assault by beating.

North Somerset Courthouse was told that the Scotsman had punched, kicked and spat during the altercation at The Edge on April 21 at about 11pm.

Jane Cooper, prosecuting, said staff immediately recognised McGarvie had been drinking heavily when he arrived at the Alexandra Parade venue and got him a soft drink to sober him up.

She said: “Barman James Bremer went into the courtyard with a tray of drinks and McGarvie barged into him, causing him to drop the drinks over other customers.”

McGarvie, aged 30, was removed from the premises only for him to wander back in shortly afterwards.

Ms Cooper said: “He then grabbed Kelly Gryggs around the throat area.

“Miss Gryggs was pulled back at which point the defendant clenched his fist and hit Mr Bremer on the right side of his head.”

McGarvie started then spitting and shouted expletives at other customers.

Hannah Fisher, seeing Mr Bremer and Miss Gryggs struggling, helped to remove McGarvie again but when he lashed out, she got her hand trapped behind the door and required hospital treatment.

McGarvie then kicked Mr Bremer in the groin and grabbed a third woman, again in the groin area, the court was told.

Ms Cooper said McGarvie tried to spit at police when they arrived at the pub.

She added: “Mr Bremer who works at the bar said they have lost loyal customers as a result of it.”

Sue Cameron, defending, said McGarvie had no recollection of what had happened.

She said it was ’out-of-character’ and he had gone drinking not long after the death of his great-grandmother, who helped raise him. He had also just been sacked for drink-driving.

Debbie Hutchen, chair of the bench, sentenced him on July 11 to a 12-month community order and 120 hours’ community unpaid work for his ‘nasty assaults’.

McGarvie must pay each of his four victims £100 in compensation, costs of £85 and a £60 victim surcharge.

An exclusion order banning McGarvie from entering The Edge was also handed out.