Friendship is... standing by the mate who broke your jaw
A MAN who had his jaw broken by a friend in a drunken brawl outside a pub forgave the assault and stood by his mate in court.
Gary Tripp-Edwards knocked Robert Lock out and continued to kick and hit him while he was on the floor outside The Foresters, Gloucester Road, on January 24.
-
But Bristol Crown Court heard how Lock forgave him, refused to give police a statement and was in the public gallery as Tripp-Edwards was spared prison by Judge Martin Picton.
The judge said: "You have come so close to going downstairs (to the cells). Your behaviour comes way above the custody threshold.
Enjoy one free child admission with a full paying adult ticket.
Terms: Not to be used in conjunction with any discounted ticket or special ticket offer. No cash alternative. Excludes Bank Holidays and Bank Holiday Weekends. Ref: This is Bristol Website Voucher
Contact: 01963 400330
Valid until: Friday, January 31 2014
"I've decided that the circumstances are sufficiently unusual, particularly given the person you hurt severely is sitting in the public gallery supporting you. But you cannot just have fights in the street and expect the public to ignore it."
Judge Picton imposed a one-year jail term, suspended for two years, ordered the defendant to do 180 hours unpaid work and pay £450 compensation.
The court heard former doorman Tripp-Edwards, of Rodbourne Road, Manor Farm, and Mr Lock had been drinking on the day in question.
CCTV showed the pair arguing and a small scuffle as Tripp-Edwards seemingly ushered Mr Lock out of the pub. Then, through the pub window, the CCTV camera recorded Tripp-Edwards attacking Mr Lock and punching repeatedly in a downwards motion as his friend and victim was lying on the floor out of view.
Prosecuting, Richard Posner said a witness walking along the road at 7.45pm saw the pair arguing then saw Tripp-Edwards grabbing Mr Lock by the throat and punching him, causing his head to hit the pub wall.
He then punched him again in the jaw, knocking him unconscious.
Mr Lock was too drunk to tell doctors what had happened, but doctors X-rayed him they found his lower jaw was broken and he needed an operation, metal plates and screws.
Tripp-Edwards, who had a number of previous offences for violence, admitted assault occasioning grievous bodily harm on the basis he feared he was going to be attacked.
Mitigating for him, Kannan Siva said the father-of-eight had showed considerable remorse.
Comments
by Bristolexpat
Monday, September 24 2012, 10:35AM
“@dayofthedog,
I kind of know where you're coming from, but this isnt really two mates having a "dust up"....
This guy is obviously a thug, has previous convictions for similar offences and showed gratuitous violence in this assult...
If he can do this to his so called mate, what is he likely to do to you or me should we encounter him in a similar boozed up situation?
You're quite right that he should have been locked up.
This isnt about his mate forgiving him and them shaking hands, its about protecting the wider public from this moron.
I expect to see him in courts some time soon for the same offence..”
by dayofthedog
Monday, September 24 2012, 10:20AM
“Fair play, we have all knocked out a mate or two back in the day after a few beers...
I like this story because it show's that 2 guys can have a dust up, shake hands and life goes on.
However, repeatably punching and kicking your 'mate' in the head when he is unconscious on the floor is simply criminal behavior and deserves a custodial sentence.
It would appear that the defendant is inclined to habitual violence, some time in prison should be served.”
by DockLobster
Monday, September 24 2012, 10:03AM
“"father-of-eight had showed considerable remorse."
Makes me wanna puke...”