A DRUNKEN spectator who bit a security guard after being nabbed following a stolen golf buggy crash during the Open golf championship has narrowly avoided going to jail.

Retired businessman Simon Lloyd was told by a judge that his offending was aggravated by his intoxication and also a conviction for violence involving throwing “a chippy tea” at a driver in a road rage incident.

Imposing a three month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said that the 47-year-old had been detained by security guards on “misplaced but genuine suspicion” of taking a golf buggy which collided with a security cabin.

“You were clearly intoxicated, you resisted and you took exception to what was happening. It took four security personnel to try and restrain you. 

“You carried on struggling and when John Bilsborough was behind you, you jerked your head back to try and head butt him twice and when the opportunity arose you bit his hand causing injuries.”

He pointed out that at the time he was on bail for the assault involving a road rage incident.

Lloyd denied assault but was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court of assault causing actual bodily harm by a jury after just 45 minutes. 

During his trial last month the court heard that the incident happened on July 18 last year on a practice day at the Royal Liverpool at Hoylake, Wirral.

A stolen golf buggy, hired out to Netflix, crashed it into a portacabin being used by security staff as a refreshment room about 8.30 pm.

Lloyd was alleged to have been the driver but he was cleared of aggravated theft after the prosecution offered no further evidence.

CCTV footage was played to the court showing Lloyd being restrained by four security officers as he walked along a pathway leading from the prestigious golf course.

David Polglase, prosecuting, said that it showed Lloyd, who was later found to be almost twice the legal drink driving limit, “was aggressive and violent”.

Mr Bilsborough said that during the incident he was trying to calm Lloyd who was saying, ‘let me go and I’ll fight you toe to toe’.

“He bit my middle finger and then my thumb, grinding it,” he said.

Lloyd, of Bertram Close, Meols, Wirral, said that he had been a member of the club for 30 years and had gone there that day to watch some of the golf and have lunch.

After drinking three or four single drinks of vodka and orange in the clubhouse he watched some more golf and then set off along a pathway to his nearby home. He denied being drunk.

He said he did not initially know who the security men - who were wearing hi-vis jackets -  were and denied being violent. “I was just minding my own business walking home,” he claimed.

Jonathan Duffy, defending, said: “He was disappointed with the verdict but respects it.”

He accepted the jury finding that his response to what was happening “went beyond what was reasonable. He is remorseful and understands it is his second conviction for violence within a reasonable short period of time.”

Mr Duffy said that Lloyd has not had a drink since his arrest “and he says he will not drink again.”

He said that he has been engaging well with a community order he received in February for common assault after the “chippy tea” incident in September 2022. 

He said he has sold his business and is hoping to do voluntary work.

Judge Trevor-Jones said that as Lloyd has “responded extremely well” to the community order he would not interfere with that order which is still in force.

He ordered him to pay Mr Bilsborough £400 compensation and prosecution costs of £1,600.