People in the news rarely vent their anger on journalists – but Bath Chronicle editor David Gledhill was thumped in his local pub last week. Here is what he wrote in the paper about his thoughts on the attack.

I was punched in the face last week.

By a woman.

It is worth mentioning, not least because my face is still tender, but because despite what you think it doesn’t happen that often.

I have been threatened by many people but thankfully the number that have resorted to violence are relatively few.

In fact I can count on one hand the number that have actually landed blows and I remain ever grateful that the Alsatian dog that was ordered to attack me, didn’t have the killer instincts its owner though it had.

I have also learned to read the signs and going to the gym three or four times a week helps at times when flight is the wiser option.

But every now and then someone gets one past you and there is not a lot you can do. And rather annoyingly sympathy tends to be on the side of the aggrieved.

I guess it is an inevitable part of the job given that we sometimes deal with the less than savoury aspects of life, and at times of grief I can accept that people will lash out.

But every time I have been assaulted it is not because I have done something wrong – such as libel or falsely malign someone, but as a result of someone refusing to accept responsibility for their own actions.

In other words it is not their fault that they have been called to account by their friends, colleagues or neighbours.

It doesn’t seem to matter that I was nowhere near when they burgled that house, got involved in that fight or drove that car when drunk.

But the fact that I reported their actions in a newspaper is in their eyes truly reprehensible.

Single handedly I have ruined their lives.

In some ways I can see where they are coming from. If all else fails then shoot the messenger.

Let’s face it, a lot of people who do something wrong can face the consequences be it a court appearance, probation or even a fine because that is meted out by people they will never come across again.

What they can’t face is the reaction of those who know them.

There’s more…