Chesterfield thug who told man 'what he'd like to do to his girlfriend with a pool cue' and later punched him has been jailed

Mathew Lee Hicklin was playing pool with a group of people - including the complainant - in the Burlington pub, in Burlington Street, Chesterfield, on January 13 this year when the incident happened, Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court was told on Monday, October 26.

Prosecuting, Becky Allsop told the court: “The complainant had gone into the pub and was playing pool with a group of people, including the defendant, and he then made a comment about what he’d like to do with his pool cue on the complainant’s female friend, and the complainant told him to f*** off.

“He apologised but then later the complainant noticed there was an argument taking place between the defendant and the woman.

“They were later advised to go out of the back door because the complainant was waiting for them and he was a nutter.

“When he went outside the defendant punched him - it was an unprovoked punch and he fell back and almost banged his head on a telegraph box.”

Hicklin, 30, of Welfare Avenue, Repton, Chesterfield had admitted assault by beating when he appeared before the court previously on October 1.

The court heard that Hicklin was currently on a suspended prison sentence for violence against a former partner and criminal damage.

Mitigating, Katie Hempstock said that Hicklin had admitted the offence at the earliest opportunity and urged District Judge Jonathan Taaffe to follow Probation Service recommendations and give the defendant a community order to include a curfew and rehabilitation activity days.

But jailing Hicklin for 18 weeks, Judge Taaffe told him: “You have been in a public house and you have had too much to drink when these disgusting comments were made to the young lady.

“You have then waited and punched the victim in an unprovoked attack and you have a history of unprovoked assaults and violence over a number of years. You are a violent man when you are in drink.”

Hicklin must also pay a £122 victim surcharge.

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