A man has avoided being sent to prison 'by the skin of his teeth' after he knocked a friend unconscious and left him a pool of his own blood.
James Turner, 49, had been drinking with his parents and Mark Warburton, when Mr Warburton allegedly made 'personal' comments about his mum. Mr Warburton had initially come round to borrow a chisel from Turner, Bolton Crown Court heard.
Prosecution barrister Patrick Williamson said: "The defendant says that during the conversations between the group, that Mr Warburton made some remarks which were extremely personal, I believe of a sexual nature, towards the defendant's mother."
Turner, who told police that he had drank "five or six cans of Stella" and was feeling "merry", pinned Mr Warburton down and punched him in the face several times. Mr Warburton was knocked out and when he came back around, he was lay on the floor with a pool of blood next to him.
The court heard that Turner then told a family friend that he "didn't care" when they intervened and asked what he had done. Mr Warburton suffered a cut to the back of his head, an orbital fracture, a fracture to the head of his fibula, and was taken to hospital.
Mr Warburton has since recovered following the assault in March 2019 but had to have reconstructive surgery to his face. In a victim personal statement, he said he was in pain for 18 months and still suffers with numbness to the left side of his face, which the sentencing judge Recorder Peter Horgan described as a "permanent reminder" of Turner's assault.
Turner, of Vernon Street, Bolton, has 29 convictions for 69 offences and was out of prison on licence at the time of the attack. He pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Warburton.
Defending, Wayne Jackson told the court that Turner has been trying to address his addiction issues including to alcohol. “He shows a willingness to co-operate with those who are offering him a way forward," he said.
"He has indicated he has an understanding of what he has done. He feels deeply ashamed of what he did."
Sentencing Turner to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, Recorder Horgan said: "Literally, by the skin of your teeth, I've decided not to send you to jail today but let me make it as clear as I can how close you came to being sentenced and how your opportunities going forward are limited."
Under the terms of his suspended sentence, Turner will have to complete 32 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He will also have to pay Mr Warburton £500 compensation.
Recorder Horgan added: “I note that you’re on benefits, I note that money is tight for you at the current time but I also note that you’re continuing to drink four cans of alcohol a day. If you’re managing to find money for that then you should be able to afford a contribution to some compensation.”
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