PUB landlords today pledged a unique show of support for a colleague who is due before the courts for allegedly attacking a customer.Members of Ipswich Pubwatch plan to wave placards then crowd into the courtroom, to back up Peter Sturman, licensee of Mannings on the Cornhill in Ipswich.

PUB landlords today pledged a unique show of support for a colleague who is due before the courts for allegedly attacking a customer.

Members of Ipswich Pubwatch plan to wave placards then crowd into the courtroom, to back up Peter Sturman, licensee of Mannings on the Cornhill in Ipswich.

He appeared before magistrates on Wednesday charged with an offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and the case was committed to Ipswich Crown Court.

The judge will hear his plea on November 28.

From the cellar of his town centre pub, Sturman today refused to comment.

He said the matter was in the hands of his London barrister who would decline to comment too.

But when Sturman's time comes to enter the dock, he knows he will be backed by a number of colleagues from across the town and fellow members of Pubwatch.

Pubwatch chairman Michael Collins said: "Our last Pubwatch meeting earlier this month, was attended by about 40 licensees and when I asked the question that morning, about this licensee - who was present - they all put their hands up to to say 'if we have to we will go to court with placards.'

"We have a fine corps of strong licensees in Ipswich, who obey the the rules and work very closely with the police."