A man suffered significant facial injuries following an attack by a 21-year-old man from Ventnor, Isle of Wight Magistrates heard.
Alexander Hill, of St Margaret’s Glade, appeared in court charged with assault by beating stemming from an incident that saw him become involved in a domestic incident involving his partner’s sister’s boyfriend.
The court heard that Hill and his partner had temporarily been living with his partner’s sister at a property in Trafalgar Road, Newport, at the time of the incident.
Ann Smout, prosecuting, told Magistrates that the victim of the attack – who lived at the same address as Hill – had gone out for a cigarette in the early hours of the morning when he heard the defendant come down the stairs.
The court heard that Hill then began to push the victim and hurl verbal abuse before launching a ‘haymaker’ punch – causing the victim to stumble over a plant pot. The attack then continued with Hill landing several more punches on the victim’s shoulder and hand, causing the victim to once again fall to the floor.
After the prolonged attack, Hill then said ‘shall we stop this now?’, before heading back into the property whilst screaming ‘don’t call the police’.
The victim, in an impact statement, explained that the injuries sustained caused him issues sleeping and walking, alongside temporary vision issues.
Oscar Vincent, for Hill, told the court that Hill had been goaded for weeks leading up to the incident and that aggravation had been caused by the victim’s behaviour – including the fact that the victim had repeatedly played loud music in the late hours resulting in the children in Hill’s care being woken.
Magistrates were told that since the offence, Hill and his partner had left the address in Trafalgar Road and undertaken a tenancy in Ventnor, with Hill finding work as a window cleaner.
Hill, who is now expecting his third child, was handed a 19-month community order to include 20 rehabilitation days alongside 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £300 in costs and a £95 surcharge.
and what about the impact statement from the innocent plant pot, that was taking care of a plant inside it and has been damaged. Earth and roots everywhere – poor thing, must be traumatised.
I heard it developed a serious plant food addiction and spends all night hanging out with the weeds on the pavement across the way. I do hope it can get help. A new pot and a good prune, it will make a fine display plant yet.