A wedding guest went berserk while celebrating his boss’s son’s nuptials.

John Murphy, the assistant manager at Hortons bar and restaurant in Bank Street, Ashford, punched a wall, smashed the glass of two pictures and damaged a lavatory.

Police threatened to Taser him, and when they tried to arrest him, he headbutted an officer, magistrates heard.

Murphy, 22, had drunk a bottle or bottle and a half of white wine, a glass of red wine, port and whisky, and told police afterwards he could not remember much about the evening.

Murphy, of Mead Road, Willesborough, Ashford, admitted causing £200 of damage to Tenterden Town Hall and assaulting PC Anthony Bonehill when he appeared before Folkestone magistrates.

He was sentenced to a year’s community order, ordered to do 50 hours unpaid work, fined £100 and ordered to pay £85 costs, a £60 victim surcharge and £50 compensation to PC Bonehill.

Neil Sweeney, prosecuting, said Murphy was a guest at a wedding reception in the Town Hall.

At 11.30pm on September 13, the reception was winding down when Hester Deackes, the Tenterden town clerk, whose daughter was the bride, saw Murphy hitting the wall at the top of the stairs, damaging it.

He punched a picture, smashing the glass, and as he went down the stairs he hit another picture, also breaking the glass.

Murphy went into the men’s toilet where a cubicle door and cistern were damaged.

Mrs Deackes had called the police and PC Bonehill and other officers arrived.

Mr Sweeney said: “Murphy was lying on the toilet floor with cuts to his hand.

“There was blood all around and water coming from the pipes, causing the
toilet bowl to overflow.

“Once outside, Murphy’s demeanour changed and he made fists and threw his arms around.”

Murphy began to struggle with police, said Mr Sweeney, and an officer drew his Taser and told him to “become compliant”.

“He obliged and was handcuffed,” said the prosecutor.

“He was taken to the rear of the police van but tried to force himself out and struggled with officers.

“PC Bonehill described his [Murphy’s] head coming towards him. He turned away and was hit on the side of his head.

toilet bowl to overflow" - Neil Sweeney, prosecuting
“There was blood all around and water coming from the pipes, causing the

“Murphy was taken to the floor of the van by other officers.”

Mr Sweeney said PC Bonehill described the headbutting as Murphy “throwing his forehead at him”.

The officer suffered a headache and tightness of the neck and shoulders, similar to whiplash.

When interviewed by police, John Murphy said he could not remember much about the night.

He had drunk a bottle or bottle-and-a-half of white wine, a glass of red wine, port and whisky.

“He could not account for how the damage happened in the lavatory,” said prosecutor Neil Sweeney.

“He recalls being restrained by friends and punching some walls. He recalls struggling because he did not want to get into the police van, but said he could never headbutted anyone and is ashamed of his behaviour.

“He appeared to be remorseful and apologetic.”

Mr Sweeney said that damage to the Town Hall had been estimated at £200.

Repairs had been carried out.