A man who threatened to burn a pub down with everyone still inside has received an immediate 4-month custodial sentence after appearing in court charged with a total of 4 offences.
36-year-old Darren Cook, of Cockleton Lane in Gurnard, appeared before Magistrates on Tuesday charged with making threats to damage property, criminal damage, assault by beating and possession of a Class A drug – cocaine. He pleaded guilty to all charges against him.
Ann Smout, prosecuting, explained to the court that on 30th August this year, at around 23:30, Cook arrived at the Vectis Tavern in Cowes and became aggressive. He was refused entry into the establishment but continued trying to get in, causing damage to a window and a patio heater in the process.
A staff member called the Tavern’s owner, Anne Cook, who then spoke to Darren Cook on the phone. This is when a tirade of threats was made, during which Darren Cook stated he ‘wasn’t a fucking grass’. He told Mrs Cook that he was going to call people with firearms to the pub and that she would be ‘filled in’. He went on to make threats that the pub would be burnt down with everyone inside, whilst demanding that the pub was closed.
During his attempts to access the pub a security guard was punched in the face, causing bruising around the eye.
Cook, who last appeared in court in July 2020 on a charge of battery, was located by Police and found to be in possession of cocaine. However, the painter and decorator was dearrested and dealt with by means of a voluntary interview at a later date.
Defending, Henry Farley said that his client expressed remorse and shame for his actions. Mr Farley provided some background to the incident, explaining that Cook had received a call from a friend stating that the friend’s sister – a family friend to Cook – had been punched in the face whilst in the Vectis Tavern. This saw Cook beside himself with rage and led to the subsequent offences being committed.
Magistrates decided that the matter was so serious that they imposed an immediate 4-month prison sentence, made up of a 4-month and a 1-month sentence to run concurrently.
