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Innocent comment met with violence
Date published: 21 December 2011
A partygoer was knocked unconscious in a vicious assault — because he innocently referred to his attacker as “kiddo.”
Mark Nolan (20) had his jaw broken in two places and had to have surgery after being punched three times in the face by 21-year old Jordan Hopes.
Mr Nolan was unable to eat solid food for weeks and was left with nerve damage after the attack.
Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court was told the assault happened at a party in Ripponden Road, Oldham, where both men had gone after drinking at a local pub.
Brendon O’Leary, prosecuting, said Mr Nolan had been rolling a cigarette and had dropped it.
Hopes, of Astley Close, Shaw, picked it up and handed it back to him, at which Mr Nolan innocently said: “Thanks, kiddo.”
Hopes took offence at the comment and said: “Don’t call me that.” Despite Mr Nolan’s attempts to convince him it was a friendly expression, Hopes lashed out, punching Mr Nolan three times and knocking him out.
Judge Mushtaq Khokhar told Hopes a suspended jail sentence with strict conditions would be far greater punishment than immediate custody.
He was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, with nine months’ supervision.He was also ordered to carry out 150 hours’ unpaid work, tagged, given a four-month curfew and ordered to pay his victim £900 compensation.
Judge Khokhar said: “You punched this man three times despite others trying to restrain you, all because he called you ‘kiddo’. Nobody takes offence at that.”
The judge accepted the offence in August had been an isolated incident by Hopes who pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Comments
Yep, and there's another 'suspended' sentence. What a joke!
It's comforting to know that violent people are free to walk the streets and reoffend, as they please. Conforting if you're a lawyer likely to benefit that is.
Just what does it take to get locked up these days? Well one young man who skipped his jury service found out. Mess with the lawers income & you'll go inside!
Stop the world I want to get off! What is it with these moronic, violent idiots? If they’re not shouting abuse at you as you walk quietly past, they’re threatening to rearrange your face for some imagined slight.
The liberal attitudes of the people in power are at odds with those of most other people . hundreds of millions spent on social workers for re-offenders and problem families. Spend the money on jails and sentence offenders properly. The deterent factor would reduce this kind of thing immediately
Have Your Say
Is this judge on the same planet as the rest of the world? No wonder assaults continue unabated as the offendors come up against only the Mary Poppins characters controlling the court system. This was assault pure and simple but obviously this judge and I say this very loosely was not convinced for some incredulous reason. Maybe if he had been the recipient of the attack he would have a different view or has he started the Christmas spirit early.
By Overseas @ 21/12/2011 16:40:21