Divorcee headbutted innocent man in face in Cleveleys bar '“ because he stared at him

A businessman and property developer headbutted a reveller in an unprovoked attack.
Mark Saxon has avoided a jail termMark Saxon has avoided a jail term
Mark Saxon has avoided a jail term

Preston Crown Court heard Mark Clifford Saxon, 52, of Henley Avenue, Cleveleys, was at a low ebb when friend took him out on July 30.

He went on to launch an unprovoked attack on a man who had been out with his wife and friends after walking over to him in The Venue in Cleveleys and asking if he “had a problem”.

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The victim was left with a gash to the back of his head. In a victim statement to the court said his confidence had been affected and he rarely went out.

Rachel Wood, defending, said Saxon, who used to live in Spain and ran a carpet fitting firm and a property development company back in the UK, had been left in financial difficulties after a divorce from the mum of his two children.

She said: “This was a disgraceful incident. The defendant is to accept full responsibility for his behaviour that evening.

“He has no explanation, no excuse to put before the court as to why he behaved in the way he did, which in my submission is very much out of character.

“However I’d like to put the incident in context.

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“This offence occurred at a time when he was highly emotionally charged. He had gone through a particularly difficult divorce in 2017 which had affected him not just financially but emotionally. He had taken off a year from work because he had found it difficult to cope.

“He had far too much to drink and behaved in an appalling and criminal manner. It’s is a matter he’s thoroughly embarrassed and ashamed of.”

Saxon admitted causing actual bodily harm.

Recorder David Swinnerton told him: “Your problems are no reason to take out violence on an entirely innocent man.”

He imposed a four month jail term suspended for 18 months, with a rehabilitation activity, 100 hours unpaid work and curfew.

He also ordered him to pay £250 compensation.

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Prosecuting, Judith McCulloch said Saxon’s victim and his friends were celebrating a birthday and some time after 1am Saxon had approached the party.

When the victim’s wife asked him what the issue was he said the men had been “staring at him.”

As he stood there, Saxon headbutted him in the face, knocking him to the floor.

He was arrested outside minutes later.