A CAFÉ in Henley had its front window broken on Christmas Eve.

A man smashed his fist through the 6ft by 5ft window of the Chocolate Theatre Café in Thames Side after earlier being asked to leave the Angel on the Bridge pub on the other side of the road.

Police said he had fallen into the river after leaving the pub and then returned to try to get served again. After being turned away a second time, he ran off and then wrapped his fist in his coat and punched the café window.

Vivienne Connery, who co-owns the café, was on her way home with her husband Gary, when they received a call from Mark Dunlop, manager of the pub, telling them what had happened.

Mrs Connery, who lives in Station Road, said: “It was awful but we didn’t let it ruin Christmas.”

She said some regulars at the pub fetched boards to secure the window and a builder made it safe. “It was amazing to see the community spirit,” said Mrs Connery. “They wouldn’t take any money so we gave them a box of cakes.”

She had hoped to have the window replaced in time for when the café re-opened after Christmas last Friday but a glassfitter couldn’t fit a new pane until Wednesday this week due to the window’s size.

Mrs Connery put a poster on the boarded-up window explaining to customers what had happened.

Police said a 26-year-old man had been arrested and bailed to appear at Abingdon police station on January 23.

Published 04/01/13