45 stitches to face for tackling vandals
UNEMPLOYED Kyle Williams has been locked up after hitting a man in the face with a branch.
The 20-year-old, of Larch Grove, Chesterton, left Stephen Chappell with a gash along his jaw that needed 45 stitches.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday heard Mr Chappell had been visiting his friend Paul Kelly, in Crackley, on July 3 last year when they heard noises outside.
They went out to investigate and discovered a gang of youths hitting his van, while one – Williams's brother – pulled at the wing mirror.
Mr Kelly shouted at them to stop, but was met with abuse, so went over to the youth tampering with the mirror. The youth swung a punch at Mr Kelly, who punched him in the face, and another youth grabbed Mr Kelly around the neck.
As another group of men, including the defendant, appeared in the street, Mr Chappell told the gang to stop.
Robert Price, prosecuting, said: "At that stage the defendant became involved. He said 'Why are you banging my brother?'
"Mr Kelly said he had been damaging his van. Another member of the group struck Mr Kelly to the head with a bottle, and five or six males were squaring up to him with clenched fists.
"The situation was getting out of hand and Mr Chappell was trying to calm things down. The defendant picked up a branch from the ground and struck the complainant to the face with considerable force.
"The complainant suffered a 6cm laceration down to the bone on his right jaw, which was closed up at hospital with 45 stitches."
Williams pleaded guilty to wounding on the day he was due to stand trial. He said he was told his brother was being beaten up, and arrived to find Mr Kelly hitting him. Williams said he attacked Mr Chappell because he believed he was going to join in the attack on his brother.
The court heard at the time of the attack Williams was subject to a community order imposed after he was convicted of theft, and on bail for another offence.
Joanne Wallbanks, mitigating, said: "The defendant was not part of the original group, he came along having heard his brother was being assaulted.
"This was not pre-meditated, it was an impulsive action and he wasn't aware of what had happened in the run-up.
"He is extremely sorry and if he had the means he would be willing to pay compensation to the victim, but he does not."
Judge Robert Trevor-Jones sentenced Williams to eight months in a young offenders' institution.
Williams also admitted theft after stealing a taxi driver's satellite navigation system from a cab as he was dropped off after a night out, for which he received a further month's detention, making a total of nine months.
Judge Trevor-Jones said: "You hit Mr Chappell with considerable force and caused an ugly, deep wound. Your position is aggravated by the fact you have previous convictions for theft and some violence."
89 Comments
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by Warren, Mier
Tuesday, March 23 2010, 7:09PM
“She started it....lol”
by Natasha, Fegg Hayes
Monday, March 22 2010, 4:13PM
“I don't condone what the lads have done but why are you giving their mum loads? Obviously shes going to stick up for her sons, its what a mother does. Why should she punish Kyle when hes being punished by being in a YOI. Not once has she said she condones what they have done. She probably has brought them up properly but when has everyone listened to absolutely everything their mother tells them? She cant keep a eye on them 24/7. You lot are as bad as them for giving her abuse. Just give her a break. Oh and Anon Ches, if you look below the @ sign on your keyboard you will find there is this symbol ' which is what you need to be using instead of commas all the time. Your trying to give it the big I am but your just making yourself look silly.
Oh and no, I don't know Kyle or any of their family, I just don't think its right your giving her abuse.”
by anon, chess
Saturday, March 20 2010, 7:07PM
“obviously Hayley you can,t read happy meant you put something on the end of it and there is no father figure only your boyfriend,oh and you are claiming benefit,s i hope the social read these as you have put your foot in it don,t bother replying copy is on the way to d.s.s”
by hayley, chess
Saturday, March 20 2010, 1:27PM
“warren mier i have read your comment which really says no more that it as said for the last couple of days you really are like a stuck record i dont have to explain to you about anything because you are really not that important never once have i said that i was happy about what my sons hsd done but believe me i wont be giving you my address as i really dont think you are worth it and as for me drinking wrong again so there you go you idiot get a life of your own u silly silly man”
by claire, chess
Saturday, March 20 2010, 10:54AM
“happy chess,can you read,kyle didnt need to put anything on the end of it,he aint got a child,but hes been doin a great job helping his girlfriend to bring up hers !!! muppet”
by Warren, Meir
Saturday, March 20 2010, 9:52AM
“Hayley, knock the cap lock off will ya'. Tell you what, give us your address, and I'll pay you and your beloved sons a little vist when Kyle comes out, I'll explain to you and your disfuntunal band of nutjob offspring just what the problem many people have with the likes of you, just as long as the council have removed any tree branches that happen to be on the ground. There is notheing you can say that will convince anyone thay your son had any right to do what he did, thats not counting one or two of your missgided mates. This man will be scared for life, and for what, protecting his property and livlylhood from a bunch of fearal, snotty nosed brats you and your like have the misfortune to call sons. Can you explain to me why your younger son was takeing part in such a wantent act of vandelisem in the first place.. This seem like a questin I or someone other then me sould have asked you at the start of this sorry matter. I'll be straght hear, I think the only way you are sleeping at night is becouse your doing what your kind always do, drink that much you can not help but crash out. I find this nasty matter, and your constant atemps to defend your sons actions very distastfull. I have said before on onther reports that I don't think that what kids of this age, and fully grown men, do has much to do with how they were brought up whan younger, One thing I do not expect or in anyway like to see is mothers comeing on hear acting as you are, openly saying you are glad your son is to get released early from his sentance. Your job now as a mother is not to insult people condeming your son, what he, well both did, was out of line, and you know it. It is to say to them, 'What you did, it was not on, you have shamed me, please, for God sake, don't do it again'. Now willplease do this. Cheers, and have another good night sleep tonight. Glug, Glug.”
by hayley, chess
Saturday, March 20 2010, 7:54AM
“happy chess omg i see what you do with your time at 9.25 watch jezza kyle well that says alot for you o and by the way you assumed wrong about being no father figure so there you are chattin about things that really mean nothing to me so who the sado i mean to know all the saying jezza kyle uses that says alot for you my dear so gud bye enjoy next week wont you go jezza go”
by happy, crackley
Friday, March 19 2010, 6:21PM
“I,m so glad you had a good night,s sleep,I bet your son didn,t.”
by happy, chess
Friday, March 19 2010, 5:59PM
“I am assuming that there is no father figure in your childarens life,s Hayley,i know it,s hard to bring a family up on your own and on benefits as well it, a pity that you never put something at the end of it,as jeremy would say and whose paying for it us who work and pay into the system.so Hayley yes you should take some responibility and not keep making a fool of yourself by replying to these comment,s.”
by hayley, chess
Friday, March 19 2010, 10:30AM
“ANON CHESS YOUR COMMENTS OUR NOW BORING ME IF THERE IS ANY ONE OUT THERE WHO ARE BRAVE ENOUGH TO KNOCK ON ME DOOR AND LET ME KNOW THERE FEELINGS THEN FINE BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TYO HIDE BEHIND ANON WELL THAT SHOWS HOW BIG YOU ARE AND AS FOR WARREN IN MERE I AM REALLY TIRED AND WORN OUT BY YOUR SILLY COMMENTS BUT GUESS WHAT I SLEPT FINE LAST NIGHT O AND 1 MORE THING HAPPY CRACKLEY PERSON YOUR SO BRAVE AS WELL YOU CANT PUT YER NAME SO ALL GET ON WITH YOUR SAD LIVES YOU IDIOTS GOOB BYE SADO HAPPY CRACKLEY SADO WARREN FROM MERE AND ANON FROM CHESS”