A PLUMBER has been ordered to pay compensation to two men who he kicked during a closing time scuffle in Teignmouth.

Richard Pengilley had gone out to comfort a friend who had just split up from his partner but instead he got involved in his trouble.

He intervened in a fight which his friend started outside Dicey Reilly’s bar in Teignmouth and then attacked a second man moments later.

Both victims suffered nasty injuries to their head and shoulder which kept them off work for ten days and eight weeks.

Pengilley, aged 54, of Tweenways, Kingsteignton, admitted two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm and was jailed for 12 months, suspended for two years by Judge Peter Johnson at Exeter Crown Court.

He was ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid community work and pay £1,500 compensation to each of the victims.

The judge made a restraining order banning contact with the victims and told him: ‘You are before a court for the first time and have a good work ethic. You have now lost your good character.’

Mr Ian Graham, prosecuting, said the first fight broke out when the man who Pengilley was drinking with attacked someone who was leaving the pub with his ex-partner.

It was around midnight on August 17, 2019, and all those involved had been drinking at Dicey Reilly’s in Regent Street, Teignmouth.

Pengilley joined the fray and kicked the victim in the side and stomach while he was on the ground.

He then attacked the second victim, pushing him to the ground so that the back of his head cracked onto the pavement. He then kicked him in the head before being pulled away.

Miss Rachel Smith, defending, said Pengilley has never done anything like this before and is baffled at how he got involved with the violence.

He had gone out that night to ensure his friend did not get into any trouble, added Miss Smith.

She said he is a grandfather and self-employed plumber whose business had been affected by lockdown and whose plans to go travelling had been wrecked by the Covid crisis.

Miss Smith said: ‘He offers no excuses and has a genuine sense of shame and remorse.’