A director of Turks Bar says reports Falcon Walsh was drinking in the bar before he viciously assaulted a man in Havelock North are false.
Falcon Kaine Walsh, 18, who had no criminal convictions, was sentenced on Wednesday to two years and six months in prison in Hastings District Court, after admitting he punched and kicked a man on the ground. He was 17 at the time of the attack.
Hawke's Bay Today previously reported Mr Walsh had been drinking in Turks Bar on the night of the assault but a director of the bar, Jeremy Smith, said this was untrue - Mr Walsh tried to gain entry but was denied.
"Turks Bar management and the directors have worked closely with the police on this case and I can categorically state that Falcon was denied entry into Turks [Bar] on that night."
Mr Smith said the bar had CCTV footage of Mr Walsh being refused entry. He was later seen interacting with the assault victim outside the bar in the footage around closing time, but never set foot inside.