A man who carried out an assault in a Bath pub after being provoked was acting out of character and had “blown up his life”, a court heard.
Matthew Sherlock, 52, was before Bath magistrates for sentencing on Wednesday 28th January after admitting at a previous court appearance that he’d assaulted Darren Clark at the Trowbridge House pub in Coronation Avenue on 8th August 2025, causing him actual bodily harm.
Sherlock, who was a bus driver at the time, also admitted a further charge of failing to provide a breath sample for analysis on the same day.
The court heard that Mr Clark had overheard a political conversation in which Mr Sherlock had voiced pro-immigration views.
Mr Clark reportedly took issue with what was being said and in CCTV played to the court, he could be seen putting his hands on a table where Sherlock was sitting, and it tipped up.
There was a scuffle and Sherlock was ejected from the pub, but he returned 10 minutes later and attacked Mr Clark, who ended up on the floor. He sustained a gash to his forehead and nose and two black eyes.
Later, Sherlock went to Bath Bus Station to tell his manager he would not be working. He appeared intoxicated and was seen to get into his own vehicle and attempt to move it.
The police were called and Sherlock refused to give a roadside breath test. He was arrested and taken to Keynsham Police Centre, where he refused to provide samples of breath for analysis.
Duty solicitor Rachel Tiley told the court that Sherlock had “very foolishly” returned to the pub and assaulted the complainant.
She said he had been driving buses on and off for 15 years and had lost his job of 18 months. He had resigned as he would “inevitably” have been sacked.
The court heard that alcohol has always been something of an issue for Sherlock, but he is now abstaining. He had been the victim of a serious assault when he was 18 and suffers flashbacks which might indicate underlying PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).
The probation officer told the court that Sherlock had very clearly acted out of character and had been “very shocked” by his behaviour.
“He has blown up his life,” she said. However, she said he had taken responsibility for his behaviour and he welcomed the support being offered.
Magistrates said they recognised there had been provocation, but the big issue was that Sherlock had returned after being thrown out of the pub.
They imposed a community order under which Sherlock will be tagged for alcohol abstinence and monitoring for 90 days. He will undergo alcohol treatment for nine months with support service Turning Point and must complete up to 10 rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) days.
Magistrates banned him from getting behind the wheel for 17 months, but the disqualification will be reduced by 25% if he completes a drink-drive rehabilitation course.
An interim ban had come into force after Sherlock’s guilty plea in December.
He was ordered to pay a court surcharge of £114 and £85 prosecution costs, but magistrates said they did not think compensation to the complainant would be appropriate in this case.
