The former landlord of a Penryn pub has been jailed for brandishing a scaffolding pole, while his ex partner escaped immediate prison for driving a van with a man clinging to the front in the same incident.

Nathan Foster and Elkie Mills, former landlords of the King’s Bar, appeared before Truro Crown Court for sentencing today.

Foster had previously pleaded guilty to damaging property and affray, while Mills was found guilty of dangerous driving following a trial earlier this month.

During sentencing, the court was told that it related to an incident in New Street, Penryn on May 14, 2021.

Prosecutor Michael Green said there had been an initial exchange between Mills and two builders working at a property in the street.

Mills had been driving a van and found herself unable to get through a narrow space due to one of the workmen’s vans.

At this point she phoned Foster and “the matter escalated considerably.”

Mr Green said Foster appeared holding a scaffolding pole and demanded to know whose van it was, before hitting it with the pole.

“[The builder] approached Mr Foster, who was seen raising the pole and he swung it at [the man]. He jumped back and the pole missed him.

“The two began what was described as a ‘wrestling match’,” he said.

At this point Mills began driving her van in the direction of the builder, with the other workman clinging to the bonnet.

The builder then grabbed Foster “in a bear hug,” but he continued trying to hit him by headbutting him backwards until police arrived.

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In mitigation, Foster was said to wish to make “an abject apology” to the two builders, with barrister Rupert Taylor adding: “He accepts he behaved in an appalling way. He is ashamed at what he has done.”

He added that Foster now lived in Saltash and had a job as a catering manager for a school.

Judge Simon Carr sentenced Foster to eight months in prison, saying that arming himself in that way, attacking a van and threatening to strike something meant “only a custodial sentence is appropriate.”

Turning to Mills, he described the CCTV footage of the offence as “terrifying”, saying: “If a person had gone under the wheel he would have been seriously injured.

“That footage will stay with me because, when you drove with the victim on the bonnet, he came perilously close to going under the wheel. There’s no doubt he would have been killed.”

When describing how the victim had been affected by the incident, Judge Carr explained how he “still has nightmares and flashbacks, I’m sure of it.”

However, he acknowledged how during the trial Mills told the court about an abusive relationship with Foster, as well as a separate abusive relationship before that.

Judge Carr said: “You told us in evidence that you had once scratched the alloys of his car and that his reaction was exactly the sort of reaction you would expect from someone like that.”

He said by ringing Foster she “wanted him to know it wasn’t your fault,” adding: “You couldn’t have known how he was going to react.”

He went on to say: “As a result of his financial abuse, you are now effectively bankrupt.

“With that background, and for that reason alone, I am inclined to suspend the sentence.”

Mills received a sentence of eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years, as well as being made the subject of a two year community order, ordered to undertake mental health treatment, and take part in a rehabilitation activity.

She was also disqualified from driving for two years.