Frinton Greensward fight sparked by drunk staring at woman

Silvin Taschina, 26, was walking past a woman sitting on Frinton’s Greensward in June last year.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard the woman had just enjoyed a swim in the sea.

Ross Cifonelli, prosecuting, said: “She was just wearing a bra top and was drying off and he was staring at her inappropriately. He was intoxicated and [she] felt uncomfortable.”

When a group asked Taschina to leave, an altercation followed.

The court heard the defendant “kept asking the males present for a fight”.

He walked away, but returned a short while later and a fight broke out.

Fight: Man knocked unconscious by drunk on Frinton's Greensward

Mr Cifonelli said a man approached the scuffle and tried to calm the situation down, but received a punch to the head from Taschina for his trouble.

“This caused him to fall backwards and lose consciousness for about 30 seconds”, he said.

“The defendant was restrained, pinned to the floor for a while, calmed down and walked away, however, he was then still shouting at the group, effectively wanting a fight.”

In police interview, Taschina, of Old Bedford Road, Luton, denied committing an assault and said the group had provoked him.

But he later admitted charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and using threatening or abusive words or behaviour.

Annie Fraser, mitigating, said her client has no previous recorded convictions and described his day-to-day conduct as “hardworking and exemplary”.

Charges: The attacker Silvin Taschina admitted assault

She added he admitted the offences at the first opportunity in the magistrates’ court and said he had endured sleepless nights awaiting sentence.

“From the pre-sentence report, he is a hard-working young man and very family-minded,” she said.

Ms Fraser said Taschina sends money to Romania to support his widowed mother and 13-year-old sister.

Recorder William Clegg QC ordered Taschina to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and a 20 day rehabilitation activity requirement. He must pay £621 in court costs.

Mr Clegg added: “This was quite disgraceful behaviour and I hope you are truly ashamed of yourself.”

- 

For news updates straight to your inbox, sign up to our court and crime newsletter here.

Keep up to date with all the latest crime and court news with our dedicated Facebook page.