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Sunderland Echo
England, UK
Friday, 15
February 2008
Man avoids
jail for punching woman bouncer
A businessman who
lashed out at a woman bouncer during a pub brawl has been
spared jail.
Alan Smart
fractured Lesley Kelp's jaw during an incident at Jaydees in
Sunderland city centre on April 15 last year.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how Smart became involved when
trouble broke out inside the bar.
During an earlier hearing, the 29-year-old admitted causing
grievous bodily harm and submitted a basis of plea which was
acceptable to prosecutors.
His barrister, John Wilkinson, told the court:"He was present
in Jaydees with others, including his sister and her
boyfriend. At one point his sister was being pestered by
youths and her boyfriend intervened and a scuffle broke out.
"The defendant intervened to break up the scuffle. He was
taken hold of by a male doorman and they made towards the
exit.
"He believed he
was about to be manhandled and accepts he struck out, catching
the complainant in the face.
"It was never his intention to strike her but he accepts by
hitting out his behaviour was reckless and unlawful."
The court heard Ms Kelp suffered pain for months after the
incident and lost over £2,000 in earnings because of what
happened.
Smart, of Shrewsbury Crescent, Sunderland, runs his own security
firm. The court heard he does not have a record for violence.
Mr Wilkinson told the court: "His remorse was genuine and
immediate."
Judge John Evans sentenced Smart to 12 months' imprisonment,
suspended for two years, with a six-month curfew between 8pm and
8am.
Smart was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and pay
Ms Kelp £2,000 compensation.
The judge said: "This certainly was not an offence committed
with a degree of malicious intent."
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