Teeth Smashed in Ashby Street Fight

A Derbyshire man has been ordered to pay £3,000 in compensation to a man whose teeth he smashed during a night out.

Paul Hollis, 31, of Lincoln Way, Midway admitted one count of causing grievous bodily harm without intent during a hearing at Leicester Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 7th March 2019.

This is an offence contrary to section 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. It can be dealt with by either the Magistrates' or Crown Court and attracts a maximum penalty of 6 month's imprisonment and/or a level 5 fine on summary conviction, or 5 years imprisonment on conviction on indictment.

The court heard that Hollis got into a disagreement with the victim in an Ashby-de-la-Zouch takeaway on the evening of 25th August 2018.

A while later the victim and a friend were stood on Market Street waiting for the victim's girlfriend to pick him up. Hollis and two friends approached and the argument reignited between the five of them.

Prosecutor Kwok Wan said: "Mr Hollis runs to (the victim) and punches the back of his head. This causes him to fall forward, his head striking the street surface, and he is unresponsive."

The police attended and Hollis was arrested.

In the police vehicle on his way to the police station he told officers he had retaliated after seeing his friend being attacked.

Mr Wan said Hollis told the police: "I'm not going to deny it but he hit my friend so I was just sticking up for him."

The prosecutor described the extent of the victim's injuries, which included cracked teeth and facial lacerations. He also told the court that the victim had been vulnerable, due to the way he had been attacked from behind.

But that was refuted by Michelle Harding, representing Hollis.

She told the court that if she had spoken to Hollis at an earlier stage she may have advised him to plead not guilty to the charge because he had just been defending his friend who was being attacked by Hollis's victim.

She said: "Vulnerability is not a part of this incident. It's clear (the victim) is well in with this fight that is going on and is at the forefront.

"He played the major role in this incident and I ask you to bear that in mind when considering compensation."

Magistrates clearly disagreed with Miss Harding's interpretation of events.

Hollis was sentenced to a 12 month community order with a 300 hour unpaid work requirement. He was also ordered to pay the victim £3,000 in compensation.

Chairman of the bench Martin Pantling said: "You're not going to prison today but this was late at night in a town centre and lots of other people were in the vicinity.

"It was a group activity – there was a bit of a melee and the injuries caused were substantial."

But he added: "There was provocation."