A Rochdale man has been convicted of an appalling assault on a dental receptionist.
Benjamin Craig Almond, 27, of Edenfield Road, Rochdale, admitted one charge of assault by beating when he appeared at Manchester Magistrates' Court on Friday, 26th June 2020.
Prosecutor Gareth Hughes outlined the circumstances of the offence, which took place at a dental practice on Rochdale's Bury Road, on Monday, 19th August 2019.
"The defendant entered and he was late for his appointment, which was listed for 11 am," Mr Hughes began.
"He then said he was going to go out and get some water, so the receptionist said OK, and he left. He was not aggressive at this point.
"He had been gone for about 10 minutes, the dentist had called him but he wasn't there and hence missed his appointment.
"He then comes back and asks the receptionist if he missed it and she says yes.
"The defendant then got abusive, calling everybody 'fucking tossers', he called the receptionist 'fucking ugly', a 'fucking bitch, and a fucking slag' and then told her: "you should get some fucking plastic surgery".
"He then left the surgery and went outside, only to return five minutes later.
"At around 11.40 am he returned with what she perceived to be a 500 ml bottle of water.
"The defendant walked up to the receptionist and started throwing water at her and over the reception area.
"The receptionist described him as being 'furious'."
The court heard that Almond spat at the receptionist, but the prosecution accepted his basis of plea that this was a reckless action rather than an intentional one.
In a victim impact statement, which was read to the court, the receptionist described her shock at Almond's unacceptable conduct.
She added: "I never expected to be assaulted, I have been working in this position for 11 years and have never been assaulted before."
Incorrectly addressing District Judge Bernard Begley, solicitor Stephen Connor, mitigating, said: "As Your Honour will have seen in the pre-sentence report, there are issues from my client's childhood that will need to be addressed.
"However, he is remorseful for his behaviour."
Judge Begley, sentencing, told Connor: "This is appalling.
"This was a woman who was just doing her job, working at the dental practice as a receptionist.
"These are serious and appalling offences."
Connor was sentenced to 8 weeks' custody suspended for 12 months, with up to 20 days rehabilitation activity requirement.
He was also ordered to pay £150 compensation, £85 towards prosecution costs and £122 victim surcharge.
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