Highworth drinker left woman with broken leg (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Highworth drinker left woman with broken leg

5:04pm Thursday 1st May 2008 in Swindon By Gazette Reporter

Drinker Christopher Skinner, who left a woman with a badly broken leg after he punched her outside a pub, has walked free from court.

Skinner, 24, of Queens Avenue, Highworth, lashed out after throwing paint about outside the King and Queens in Highworth following a dispute with another drinker.

As a result of the assault victim Wendy Hammond was left with a badly broken leg which needed to be operated on and a scar to her face.

A court heard how she felt physically and mentally scarred for life' and that she is not the same person she was before the attack.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court today how Miss Hammond had gone out to the pub wither boyfriend on the night of Saturday November 25, 2006.

Skinner was also there and had been drinking when he got involved in a dispute with another man.

"I hope that is a salutary lesson to you that if you drink to excess and get yourself in fights not only can you be hurt but innocent people too."

Recorder Ian Pringle QC

Mr Meeke said there had been a history between the two men who had been involved in an argument before, which was brought up again.

During the altercation he said Skinner picked up a pot of paint that was in the pub and as he said he feared he was going to be attacked.

"He went outside and threw it about, catching a lot of people. That led in due course to argument between him and Miss Hammond's boyfriend," he said.

During that incident Miss Hammond intervened to try and stop what was taking place and Skinner turned and struck out at her before running off.

Mr Meeke said Skinner had pleaded guilty on the basis he did not know who he had hit and was nit sure if it was even a male or female.

Miss Hammond fell badly as a result of the assault and suffered a twisted fracture to her leg which required quite serious surgery.

A rod had to be placed into the limb leaving a long scar on her leg and she also suffered another to her face.

The court heard how that scar, on her left cheek below her eye, is so bad that it cannot be masked with make up.

When he was questioned having been recognised by witnesses he denied assaulting Miss Hammond only changing his plea on the morning of trial.

Skinner admitted a charge of grievous bodily harm.

Nicholas Fridd, defending, said his client had changed a great deal in the 18 months since the incident.

At the time he used to frequently go out binge drinking but has now hardly goes out at all, he told the court.

He said Skinner worked for DHL, where he had been since shortly after leaving school, and had told them about the incident and court proceedings.

"This looks like a complete one off," he told the court.

Passing sentence Recorder Ian Pringle QC said "You struck out, I accept recklessly as in your basis of plea, and struck a woman.

"You may have seen the impact statement from Wendy Hammond; she describes herself a physically and mentally scarred for life and scarred she has been on both cheek and leg.

"I hope that is a salutary lesson to you that if you drink to excess and get yourself in fights not only can you be hurt but innocent people too."

He imposed a ten month jail term suspended for two years and ordered he do 120 hours of community service and pay £500 compensation and £500 costs.