Man handed suspended sentence for assault outside Ottery St Mary pub
Samuel Whitcombe, 46, of Brook Street in Ottery St Mary, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm without intent
Samuel Whitcombe, 46, of Brook Street, Ottery St Mary, has been given a suspended sentence for assaulting a man outside a pub in the town centre.
Whitcombe appeared at Exeter Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 3rd September, where he pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm without intent and received an eight-month sentence, suspended for 12 months.
Alongside the suspended sentence, Whitcombe must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement and pay associated court costs.
The court was informed of the incident that took place on 19th June 2025, when police were alerted to a man in cardiac arrest with a serious head injury.
Officers visited the hospital where the victim described being assaulted.
CCTV footage from Brook Street showed the victim walking towards The Kings Arms before being confronted by Whitcombe.
After a verbal disagreement, Whitcombe pushed the victim into a wall, resulting in a substantial head injury.
Further CCTV from The Lamb and Flag identified Whitcombe as the attacker, leading to his arrest at Exeter Police Station.
The victim suffered a bleed on the brain, a bruised skull, and a skin laceration, and reported persistent headaches and leg tingling following the assault.
Whitcombe also pleaded guilty to possession of Class B drugs found during a search of his home.