A Knowle man who gouged at the eye of his former girlfriend's mum has had his sentence adjourned. Harrison Charles was due to learn his fate today.
The 21-year-old, of Kenmare Road, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing grievous bodily harm on December 5 last year. Instead of passing sentence a judge adjourned the case to July 21, pending a mental health assessment on Charles.
Ian Fenny, prosecuting, told Bristol Crown Court Ms Irwin visited Charles to retrieve her daughter's keys. But he told the court an "absolutely fuming" Charles punched her on the chin and knocked her to the ground.
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Mr Fenny said: "The defendant began to gouge at her eye. She described the pain as 'horrendous' before someone pulled him off her.
"She was able to run to a car driven by a friend. She sought refuge."
Mr Fenny said Charles tried to pull the victim from the car and punched her several more times before her friend was able to drive them away. She attended Bristol Eye Hospital where she received treatment for trauma to her right eye.
She lost sight in her eye for just over a fortnight
In a statement the victim said the impact of the assault on her was huge. She lost sight in her eye for just over a fortnight and remains frightened she will never regain full visibility.
The court heard Charles suffers from mental health conditions after a major road accident. The judge said it was recognised Charles has episodic dyscontrol syndrome - meaning for no apparent reason to others and without warning he could explode into uncontrollable violence.
The judge adjourned sentence for Charles to undergo mental health assessment. He told Charles: "Please do not think that the court is not thinking about sending you to prison."
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