'Provoked' thug kicked man in head

THUG Keith Flaherty has avoided a jail sentence for kicking a man in the head.

The 30-year-old assaulted Darren Oakes after some provocation, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard yesterday.

Prosecutor Neil Ahuja said Mr Oakes had visited Flaherty's home and said something to his partner. Flaherty lost his temper and went to kick him in the chest but caught him in the head. He then told Mr Oakes to leave his house. A dazed Mr Oakes collapsed in the street and was taken to hospital.

Flaherty, of Fell Street, Smallthorne, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm on May 28.

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Robin Lichfield, mitigating, said Flaherty accepts one kick but added there was some provocation.

Judge Granville Styler said he was prepared to give Flaherty a chance because his offending is reducing. He sentenced him to eight months in prison, suspended for 18 months, with supervision.