Wigan thug who tore out boy's hair in drunken confrontation is sent to prison

Preston Crown Court heard Lee Bamber ripped out some of the boy’s hair while he was strapped in the back of the vehicle - as other terrified children watched.

Prosecutors said the other children the victim was sitting with screamed for help.

It is understood the victim had “stuck up” for the female front seat passenger, which made drunken Bamber angry.

Moments earlier the 37-year-old, of St David’s Crescent, Aspull, had been evicted from the Savoy hotel for being aggressive and loud.

During the incident, on September 7 last year, Bamber got behind the wheel of an Alfa Romeo and drove the woman and children along Central Drive in the resort while he was more than double the drink drive limit.

He was being verbally abusive to the woman, and the teenage boy tried to intervene.

He pleaded guilty to causing the boy actual bodily harm, breaching a restraining order and a suspended jail term, and drink driving.

Judge Philip Parry ruled the attack was “very serious” and said the jail term must be immediate.

He also imposed a four year driving ban, and made a lifelong restraining order to protect the woman and the youngsters, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

A message from the Editorial Director, Gillian Parkinson:

Thank you for reading this story on our website.

But I also have an urgent plea to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality local news on this free-to-read site and in print, please purchase a copy of our newspaper as well.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on our town centres and many of our valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you buying a copy when you pop out for your essential shop or subscribing for delivery.

Our journalists are highly trained by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards anywhere in the world. Our content is universally trusted - as all independent research proves.

As Baroness Barran said in a House of Lords debate this week on the importance of journalists: "Not only are they a trusted source of facts, but they will have a role to play in rallying communities and getting the message across about how we can keep ourselves and our families safe, and protect our NHS. Undoubtedly, they have a critical role."

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. In return we will continue to forensically cover the local news - not only the impact of the virus but all the positive and uplifting news happening in these dark days.

We thank all our readers and advertisers for their understanding and support - and we wish YOU all the best in the coming weeks. Keep safe, and follow the Government advice. Thank you.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE: You can subscribe for delivery by contacting us at [email protected] or calling us on 0330 4033004 for details of a participating newsagent near you.