Neighbour struck with iron bar

A row between a young woman and a pal ended with a concerned neighbour being struck with an iron bar, a court heard.
Liverpool Crown CourtLiverpool Crown Court
Liverpool Crown Court

Paige Hope was at her Leigh home when friend Lewi Openshaw called, an argument and fighting flared up and property was damaged.

Openshaw was intoxicated and he was still under the influence of sleeping tablets, Liverpool Crown Court was told. He left but returned minutes later in a car driven by Joe Connor and there was more shouting and fighting, said Neville Biddle, prosecuting.

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Ms Hope’s neighbour Albert White, hearing the commotion, was worried for her and decided to intervene and picked up a wooden pick-axe handle. “He struck Connor with it and he picked up some sort of iron bar which he used as a weapon and caused injuries to Mr White,” said Mr Biddle.

The victim went to hospital where he was treated for injuries including a bruised left eye and cuts and abrasions to his hands which needed stitches and steri-strips.

Connor, 21, of Walnut Grove, Leigh, and Openshaw, 18, of Longshaw Drive, Worsley, both admitted affray.

Judge Eliot Knopf imposed a 12-month community sentence on them both.

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He ordered Connor to carry out 100 hours’ unpaid work and 15 days rehabilitation activity and Openshaw to carry out 60 hours unpaid work and 10 days’ rehabilitation activity.

The court heard that neither had any previous convictions and regretted their actions. Defending, Paul Treble said Openshaw had gone to his friend’s home because she had difficulties with her ex-partner but because he was still under the influence of Tamazipan “he wasn’t acting as well as he have done”.

“She assaulted him and he responded and matters escalated,” he said.

Peter Killen, defending, said that Connor had gone round to support his friend and accepted causing injuries to Mr White after he had been struck twice.

He has a young child and has been offered a full time job as a motor-cross mechanic.

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