A RACEHORSE trainer from Newmarket has been sentenced in court for headbutting the landlady of a pub and using language which caused her daughter to feel “disgusted and upset”.

Philip McEntee, of Racefield Carriageway Stables in Hamilton Road, Newmarket, appeared at Bury St Edmunds Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

He admitted assaulting Elaine Priestley, landlady of the Horseshoes pub in Newmarket, by beating and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour which caused alarm and distress.

The court heard how on October 8 McEntee, 43, had been celebrating after enjoying a win at the races. Following drinks in the hospitality tent, there were a couple more beers in a car and a jockey suggested they continue their celebrations in Newmarket.

In the pub, the landlady noted McEntee was intoxicated, slumped over the bar and was with another male. She confronted the defendant, saying he should be “ashamed of himself,” after a customer reported to her he was involved in making a mess in the men’s toilets.

Lesla Small, prosecuting, said it was at this point he headbutted the landlady, causing swelling and bruising to her right cheek. Other customers then intervened and escorted him out of the pub and the police were called.

During the same evening, the landlady’s daughter said McEntee made remarks of a sexual nature which she found “alarming” and “extremely upsetting”.

Michael Whatley, mitigating, said McEntee, who he stressed was not an alcoholic, started drinking vodka in the pub, adding how spirits caused his personality to change.

He said: “It is a plea which is tendered with the utmost remorse and disgust by the defendant for his behaviour.”

He added how McEntee, a trainer for 15 years who has a small number of horses in Newmarket, had taken steps to seek help, including through Racing Welfare, to ensure such an incident never happens again.

He was sentenced to a 12 month-community order with 12 months supervision and was ordered to pay �200 compensation to the landlady, �200 compensation to her daughter and a �85 towards costs and a �20 victim surcharge.

He had also been excluded from the Horseshoes pub.