Key Points
- Owen Graham, 25, and Zac Veryard, 25, were sentenced over violence at The George pub in Newport, which caused injuries to three people.
- Prosecutor Nuhu Gobir described the pair as acting like “general nuisances” and making “obscene” comments to women when they entered the pub at 8.30pm.
- Graham had spent £200 on vodka and Red Bulls before being told by landlord Jason Evans to stop lying on the pool table.
- Graham then punched Nathan Rees in the head four or five times, triggering a wider brawl when others tried to restrain him.
- Graham picked up a pool cue and struck another man to the side of the body, while Veryard threw punches at the same man.
- Benjamin Loughton was struck on the head, fell to the floor, and Veryard then kicked him in the head.
- Graham later swung the pool cue again and hit Varri Watson’s hand as he tried to strike Mr Loughton a second time.
- Police arrested Graham nearby in Bishop Street, while Veryard was identified and arrested a few days later.
Newport (Wales Times) June 30, 2026— The George pub incident in uk/local/newport/">Newport began when Owen Graham and Zac Veryard arrived at around 8.30pm and, according to prosecutor Nuhu Gobir, acted like “general nuisances” while making “obscene” comments to women. Graham, who had reportedly spent £200 on vodka and Red Bulls, was told by landlord Jason Evans to get off the pool table, after which he warned Mr Evans not to speak to him like that and claimed he was a boxer.
Moments later, Graham sat next to another customer and punched him in the head four or five times. That assault quickly escalated into a broader disturbance when people tried to restrain him, at which point Veryard joined in by swinging punches and kicks. The court heard that the violence spread through the pub as customers intervened to remove the two men.
How was the pool cue used?
As the confrontation developed, Graham picked up a pool cue by the thin end and walked towards a man standing with Nathan Rees before striking him to the side of the body. Veryard then threw punches at the same man, deepening the chaos in the pub. When Benjamin Loughton and Varri Watson went over to see what was happening, Graham struck Mr Loughton on the head and knocked him to the floor.
Veryard then kicked Mr Loughton to the head while he was down. Graham attempted to strike him again, but as he swung the pool cue back he hit Ms Watson’s hand instead. The court account shows that the cue was used as part of a fast-moving sequence of assaults rather than a single isolated blow.
What injuries were caused?
Nathan Rees suffered a blow to the left side of his face, which cut his lip and cheek and loosened his front teeth. Benjamin Loughton was struck on the head and then kicked while on the floor, though the account provided does not set out the full medical consequences of that attack. Varri Watson was injured to the hand when Graham’s swing connected with it as he tried to hit Mr Loughton again.
The reporting says three people were injured in total. The court description indicates that the violence was severe enough to be treated as an “episode of violence”, reflecting the number of victims and the chain of assaults that followed the initial confrontation.
What did the court hear?
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard the sequence of events after the defendants entered The George pub. Prosecutor Nuhu Gobir told the court about the defendants’ behaviour inside the venue and detailed how the confrontation escalated from Graham lying on the pool table to an all-out brawl. The court also heard that Graham remained armed with the pool cue even after the pair were removed from the pub.
Police were called after the incident. Graham was found nearby in Bishop Street and arrested, while Veryard was not identified and arrested until a few days later. That detail suggests the investigation continued after the immediate aftermath of the pub disorder.
Who were the people involved?
Jason Evans was the landlord who told Graham to get off the pool table at the start of the incident. Nathan Rees was the customer who was punched in the face and suffered cuts and loosened teeth. Benjamin Loughton was the man struck on the head and kicked after falling to the floor, while Varri Watson was injured to the hand during Graham’s later swing with the cue.
The court also heard that the pair entered the pub as “general nuisances”, according to Mr Gobir. That description was presented as part of the prosecution’s account of their behaviour before the violence broke out.
Why the case matters
Cases like this are usually significant because they combine alcohol-fuelled disorder, public violence, and injuries to bystanders in a busy licensed premises. The use of a pool cue added a weapon-like element to the assault, which would likely increase concern among readers about how quickly pub disputes can turn dangerous. The fact that more than one customer was injured also shows how bystanders can become victims when violence spreads through a crowded venue.
The incident is also important as a court case because it shows the legal system dealing with both the initial assault and the wider escalation. The sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court indicates the matter had already progressed beyond arrest and charging into formal punishment proceedings.
Background of the development
Pub assaults involving more than one victim are often reported because they highlight the risks posed by alcohol, impulsive behaviour, and crowded environments. In this case, the trouble reportedly began with Graham lying on a pool table and refusing to respond calmly when asked to move, then escalated into repeated punches, the use of a pool cue, and kicks to the head of a man on the floor.
The court’s account also shows how quickly an altercation can spread once other customers step in. What began as a dispute between staff and an intoxicated patron became a multi-person brawl involving several injuries and a police response. The reporting makes clear that both defendants were treated as active participants in the disorder.
Prediction
For pub staff and licence holders, this case may reinforce the need for early intervention when a customer becomes disruptive, especially where alcohol intake and aggression are already visible. For Newport residents and regular pub-goers, the incident may increase awareness that seemingly minor behaviour, such as refusing to leave a pool table, can turn into serious violence if not managed quickly.
For the wider audience following crime reporting, the case may be seen as another example of why courts and police continue to focus on late-night pub disorder. The details suggest that future reporting on the sentence, if published, would likely centre on deterrence, public safety, and accountability for violence in licensed premises.
