THE man who went viral for ramming the gates of the Boars Head pub in Oswestry has told a judge "you won’t see me again" after he was jailed.

Michael McGuire, 20 and Park Hall Caravan Site was sentenced to two years and six months by Recorder Rachel Brand at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Friday, August 2.

He had previously pleaded guilty to five offences, including attempting cause grievous bodily harm (GBH), affray, dangerous driving, assault and possession of a dangerous weapon in the incident which happened on January 7 this year.

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Danae Larham, prosecuting, set out the facts against McGuire, stating that the 20-year-old had driven into town in a van that he used as a roofing contractor, with his girlfriend in the front seat.

While driving along Church Street, a pedestrian unknowingly stepped out causing him to swerve, which left him angry with two men and McGuire having an exchange of views.

This, according to Ms Larham, led to a "sparring toe-to-toe fist-fight" between the defendant and one man, leading to McGuire eventually chasing him up Willow Street with his roofing hammer, throwing it at him when it became clear he couldn’t catch him.

McGuire then went back into his van to search for the unknown man, mistakenly believing he had entered the Boars Head in Willow Street.

This led to the incident captured on social media where McGuire drove the heavy black gates off its hinges and also smashed the nose of doorman Ikenna Okereke with the hammer’s handle, leading to severe bleeding.

This video contains swearing and some scenes viewers may find it alarming. 

McGuire was repeatedly repelled and tackled by doorstaff, and when a customer took the keys out of the van after it broke down, he punched them twice to the head.

His family eventually arrived to take him away.

Police caught him on January 10 where, in interview, he said he had not taken his ADHD medication, believed that his girlfriend was going to be attacked and that the unknown man referred to him as a "gypsy".

In mitigation, Michael O’Brien, representing McGuire, said his client had written a letter of "genuine remorse" to Recorder Brand and that the attack was "attempted but did not carry out assault".

He added that it was not revenge but "retaliation" while Recorder Brand agreed with his assessment that the affray and other offences were covered by the attempted GBH.

A psychological report also said there was PTSD from a childhood road crash.

Sentencing him, the judge said: “It might even be an understatement to describe this as an extremely ugly incident.

“You completely lost control of yourself and it’s an irony that a young man so traumatised by a crash when a child that he should use his vehicle as a weapon to injure other people.

“It must have been terrifying for them, and to see you get out and attack door staff and another man.

“If they were injured, you’d be facing a very serious sentence indeed.”

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McGuire received 30 months for the attempted GBH – reduced from 45 for a guilty plea – and 18 months for dangerous driving, with one year for affray and assault, respectively.

All will be served concurrently while he was banned from driving for three years and eight months from Friday, August 2.

He was also banned from entering Willow Street and contacting Sam Morris, landlord at the pub.