A BUSINESSMAN has been convicted of causing criminal damage at a pub after making homophobic remarks to a member of staff.

Gary Edmonds returned to the Queen Victoria in Rottingdean after being banned and verbally abused a kitchen worker before punching through a glass panel, Brighton magistrates were told yesterday.

Edmonds, 52, of Chailey Avenue, Rottingdean, denied the charge of causing criminal damage or making homophobic remarks when he visited the pub in High Street.

The incident took place on the evening of August 13, 2016 when a group of men including Edmonds, director of Channel Glazing Ltd, and his brother were drinking in the pub and were asked to leave by the landlord, Philip Rees and his partner and employee, Ian Wilson.

After Mr Rees and Mr Wilson told them they should not be in the pub because they were previously barred for a separate incident, Edmonds said to them both that if they shook his hand he would leave.

Mr Wilson told the court that the brother whose hand he reluctantly shook was the same man who verbally abused him and proceeded to smash a glass panel at the front of the pub with his fist as he stood in the porch while being ushered out.

Mr Wilson said that the pub had to cover the cost of repair, which totalled £67.

During the incident, homophobic comments were made by two men from the group.

Mr Wilson was cursed at and called “queer” while Mr Rees used his phone to alert police about the incident.

Mr Wilson said: “The incident was over within 15 minutes and I recognised both brothers as they had previously been drinking inside the pub on more than a few occasions.

“I am certain that the same man who wanted to shake my hand smashed the glass as I was stood inches away from him when he did it.

“We have had problems with anti social behaviour in the pub before but have recently tried to change all that so the people we serve are usually very nice.”

Two other witnesses were called to the stand and when played a video recording neither could identify from the footage alone which man smashed the glass.

Elizabeth Mathews gave evidence and agreed with the description of the incident given by Mr Wilson and his partner.

Martin Tombelson also confirmed that the incident happened as described.

Both Mr Wilson and Mr Rees said they recognised Edmonds from his past visits to the pub before the incident and positively identified him during a police identity parade last November, the court heard.

Magistrates found Edmonds guilty of causing criminal damage and that the incident was motivated by homophobia.

Edmonds was given a fine of £1,086 to cover damage to the pub and the legal costs incurred by Mr Wilson and Mr Rees.

He was also given a 12 month restraining order, being told to make no direct contact with the two men and a permanent ban from the pub.