BNP leader has pint poured over him

The leader of the far-right British National Party had a pint of beer thrown over him at a Painswick pub on Saturday night.

Nick Griffin was dining with BNP colleagues in The Falcon Inn in Painswick when the incident happened.

An 18-year-old was ejected from the pub for arguing with the group, and waited outside for them to leave.

When the party walked out of the pub, at around 11.30pm, the teenager threw a drink over Mr Griffin.

The youth then claimed to have been assaulted by the men with the BNP leader.

A statement issued by Gloucestershire police yesterday confirmed the incident.

It said: "On Sunday, July 12, Gloucestershire Constabulary received a phone call from an 18-year-old man stating that he had been assaulted the previous night, July 11, outside The Falcon Public House on New Street, Painswick.

"The man stated that he had been asked to leave the pub after he was involved in an argument with a group of diners.

"He left the premises but remained outside and a while later, at approximately 11.30pm, the group of diners left and he threw drink at them.

"Following this the group restrained him and it was during this time that the man states he was assaulted and bruising caused to his face.

"He did not wish to make a formal complaint about the incident."

Simon Darby, a spokesman for the BNP, said: "Somebody threw a pint of beer over Nick, I was not there, but that is what I have been told.

"We would like to find out who it was though.

"It appears it was an opponent of ours who thinks he can go around throwing drinks over people.

"I can't believe he claimed he was assaulted, if you go into a pub and throw a pint over someone then you are asking for trouble.

"In this day and age, you never know what was in that glass - it could have been battery acid.

"It was thrown over Nick Griffin, who only has one eye anyway."

Staff at the pub declined to comment on the incident.