Telford man denies racist attack on Shifnal pub doorman
A Telford man has denied wounding a pub doorman in a racially motivated attack by punching him in the face while holding a glass.
Paul Greaves, 46, of Birchmore, Brookside, is alleged to have attacked Dennis Brown outside the Railway Inn at Shifnal on August 19, 2012, leaving the victim with a lip injury.
Greaves denies a charge of racially aggravated unlawful wounding on Mr Brown and also denies a second count of unlawful wounding.
Jurors at Shrewsbury Crown Court were told yesterday that Stephen Taylor, who was with Greaves on the night of the attack, had confessed to a solicitor to carrying out the assault.
Giving evidence, Shropshire solicitor Mike Sherwood-Smith said he was acting for Greaves when he spoke to Mr Taylor in May last year.
Mr Sherwood-Smith said: "Mr Taylor proceeded to tell me it was in fact him that had committed the assault."
The jury was told a witness summons had been made to get Mr Taylor to court to give evidence but the police had been unable to find him in time for the hearing. In a closing statement for the prosecution, Miss Laura Culley said Mr Taylor later denied he had been responsible for the assault.
Mrs Debra White said evidence had been given that it was Mr Taylor and not Greaves who had struck Mr Brown.
She pointed out Mr Brown said he was unable to say who had hit him.
The trial continues.
