Boozed-up guest “terrified” luxury Peak District hotel staff following lovers’ tiff

Gavin Chapman was seen hammering on the windows of the boutique Maynard Arms Hotel and taking his anger out on the inn’s banner sign after a boozy row with his partner.

Chesterfield Magistrates Court heard how on October 12 last year assistant manager Joshua Buckley became the “target” of Chapman’s “ire” following the tiff.

Prosecutor Emma Price told how the chaotic scenes unfolded at about 10pm after Mr Buckley asked inebriated Chapman - celebrating his partner’s birthday - to return to his room.

As the pub worker began clearing the couple’s glasses away Chapman stood up and began “shouting and swearing” in his face.

Ms Price described how Chapman, 37, - who had a “gin glass in one hand and a bottle of tonic in the other” - “was so close to his face he could have headbutted him”.

He then threw the contents of the bottle of tonic over his “terrified” victim - forcing his partner to “grab the gin glass”.

The prosecutor told how Chapman then took hold of Mr Buckley - who was “absolutely terrified” by the shirt.

She told the court: “The defendant wanted to fight him and was telling the victim he “had no backbone”.

After being removed from the pub Chapman was seen outside “banging on the windows” while staff were locked in the bar area “for their own safety”.

Sloshed Chapman was seen “damaging a sign” outside the pub - which now needs replacing at a cost of £240.

The Maynard Arms’ owner told in a statement how the venue had lost “thousands” during the pandemic and described the damaged sign as “an additional expense I don’t need”.

He added: “It’s distressing that my staff had to be put in this position.”

Karl Meakin, defending, said although the incident was “distressing and humiliating” for Mr Buckley no injury had been suffered and it had been 13 years since he had last “troubled the court”.

Chapman, of Trent Street, Scunthorpe, admitted assault, criminal damage and using threatening behaviour.

He was fined £120 and made to pay £340 in compensation.

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