A PUB customer made an obscene sexual tongue gesture at a barmaid then lied that a barman attacked him with a crowbar, a court heard.

Carl Stallard suffered a suspected broken eye socket after he was told to leave the Farriers Arms in Fish Street, Worcester. The 35-year-old of Lear Close, Worcester, denies perverting the course of public justice at Worcester Crown Court.

Sally Cairns, prosecuting, said Stallard was injured after he ran into a metal gate and falsely claimed he was struck by barman Martyn Hoole with a crowbar on October 2, 2016. The 'false claim' led to the barman being arrested for assault. Witness Mr Hoole said he asked Stallard to leave after he made the tongue gesture at barmaid Jayne Cocklin.

Stallard left through the back door still holding his drinks, a pint of bitter and a Jack Daniels and coke. Mr Hoole followed, demanding Stallard return the glasses but he ran off in the direction of Deansway. "He stopped and turned and threw the glasses at me. I managed to dodge the glasses which landed on the floor and smashed" said Mr Hoole.

He said Stallard crossed the road and headed down the side of the college and the next time he saw of the defendant he was lying on his back next to the barrier after what he believed was a fall. "I said 'that's karma for you' and walked away. I thought he got his comeuppance. I must admit I might have laughed at him a bit because he'd fallen over."

He disputed claims advanced by Stallard's solicitor Jason Patel that he had struck three blows against the defendant, two of them with 'an object'.

Mr Patel said Stallard could not be seen throwing the glasses on the CCTV but Mr Hoole said you could see it at the top of the screen. Mr Hoole later cleaned up the broken glass with a dustpan and brush. He admitted he was 'angry and wanted justice done' because the glasses could have caused him 'severe damage'.

Barmaid Jayne Cocklin said Stallard had looked her 18-year-old niece 'up and down' and 'did a sexual thing' with his tongue. At no stage did she see Mr Hoole carrying anything from the pub or any incident outside the pub itself. The trial continues.