Brother took blame for violent attack

THE bond between two brothers was so great, one was prepared to face a prison sentence for the other, a court heard.

James Kelly (19) took the blame when his older brother Paul Hazeltine broke a man’s jaw with a single punch. The pair shared a tragic background.

Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court was told that the 23-year-old had “snapped” after he was told victim Luke Greaves and a group of pals had been harassing his brother after a drinking session to celebrate his birthday.

When the assault was reported to police, officers went to Hazeltine’s address in Cunliffe Drive, Shaw, but he denied being the attacker. Kelly insisted he had been responsible. The pair stuck to their story but an investigation pinned the blame on Hazeltine.

The court was told an unshakeable bond had developed between the brothers after their father died from cancer, followed by their mother’s death in 2008 after critically injuring herself in a fall at the family home.

Gary Woodall, defending, said the family home, in which Paul still lives, had extreme sentimental value for both men. James had realised that if Paul was prosecuted and possibly given a prison sentence, he would lose the house.

Hazeltine, who pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and attempting to pervert the course of justice, was given a 12-month sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered to pay £1,500 compensation. Kelly, who pleaded guilty to a single charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice, was given a 12-month community order and a two-month nightly curfew.