Solihull magistrate Laurence McDonald has been forced to resign after attacking a chef at a pub wine and cheese evening.
McDonald, aged 44, launched into his victim during the event – allegedly leaving him with a broken jaw.
The Solihull magistrate and Birmingham company director was arrested and later admitted assault by beating. He has now resigned from the magistracy.
The astonishing scenes took place at the upmarket Turks Head in Alcester, Warwickshire,
It is understood McDonald, who is married with children, attacked the chef at the gastro pub on September 16 last year.
He pleaded guilty to one count of assault by beating, contrary to the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, at Hinckley Magistrates Court on January 31.
Sentenced the same day, the 44-year-old was given a one year community order. He was also told to carry out 56 hours of unpaid work, to be completed within 12 months.
It is understood the bust-up happened soon after the chef had entered the popular pub, which was hosting a cheese and wine evening.
The victim is believed to have fallen to the ground after being assaulted, hitting his head, and suffering an alleged broken jaw.
When contacted by the Mail, former Birmingham University graduate McDonald admitted he had pleading guilty to assault and claimed he had objected to a remark made by his victim.
He said: ‘‘I asked for an apology... and then the man fell to the ground and I was charged with assault.’’
The former JP, who lives in a country house in Warwickshire, also said that he had suffered a family bereavement weeks before the incident. McDonald had been a magistrate on the Solihull bench from October 2007 until December 2011.
He has been a client director for the multinational American IT firm, Hewlett-Packard, at its Birmingham base since 2000.
