No jail for thug who blinded dad

BLINDED: David Barry

AN 18-year-old thug has avoided jail for his part in an attack which left a Failsworth father blind in one eye.

David Barry, who later had to have his right eye removed, was assaulted in Oldham Road at 10.15pm on Friday, April 20, 2007.

The married father-of-one was knocked to the ground and subjected to a violent assault by Zachery Applegate and a number of other youths.

Mr Barry was taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital with serious facial injuries and despite doctors battling to save his sight, he had to have the eye removed.

Applegate, of Crayford Road, Philips Park, Manchester, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm at an earlier hearing and was yesterday given a 12-month community punishment order by Minshull Street Crown Court and sentenced to 150 hours’ unpaid work.

Det Sgt Jason Byrne, from Oldham CID, said: “David was an innocent man who was subjected to a horrendous and terrifying assault.

“His injuries were appalling but they could have been even worse, such was the ferocity of the attack. David’s life will never be the same again.”

In a victim-impact statement, Mr Barry said: “Before the incident I was a very happy-go-lucky kind of person. I was confident in anything I did. I enjoyed family life, having a wife and son and we would regularly enjoy going out together.

“Since being assaulted I have a totally different outlook on life. I am now part disabled, which has had a massive impact on my confidence.

“I no longer go out of an evening. When I am out of the house I am fearful of groups of people. Whenever I visit local shops and there is a group of young lads and girls standing in the doorway, I don’t have the confidence to walk past them.

“I no longer enjoy activities I used to take for granted with my family.

“The assault has also had a massive impact on my employment (as an extruder operator). I have had to take a retest to use a forklift truck. I failed the test and became upset about this. Before the test I was feeling positive. On failing it, it hit home and I realised that my life would never be the same again.”