A MAN has been accused of a serious, town centre pub assault. Haydon Lucas appeared in the dock at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, February 6. The 28-year-old, of Downside, East Ilsley, is charged with assaulting Benjamin Whitter in The Hatchet Inn, Market Place, Newbury, on March 26 last year, thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm. Mr Lucas, who was legally represented at the hearing by Simon Hammudi, spoke only to confirm his details and to plead not guilty to the single charge. He was told the case could proceed no further that day and that it would be adjourned for a trial to b…