Row over TV led to violent attack

FORTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD Andrew Notice who attacked a man leaving him with fractures to his nose and eye has been spared jail.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday heard Notice assaulted Simon Crutchley on June 4 after they and their partners had earlier dined together.

Prosecutor Fiona Cortese said Notice collected his partner's daughter and Mr Crutchley and took them to her Milton home.

But as the night developed, Mr Crutchley became drunk and Notice drove the couple back home to Abbey Hulton with his partner.

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However, he later received a call to collect his partner and a television.

When he returned home he noticed the television screen was cracked so he drove back with the intention of making inquiries about the damage.

Miss Cortese said: "The door was opened. The defendant punched Mr Crutchley a couple of times causing him to fall. He left the house and stood on the driveway.

"Mr Crutchley came out of the property and moved as if he was going to strike the defendant. The blow did not connect.

"The defendant punched him a number of times.

"Mr Crutchley went to the floor, the defendant continued to punch him. Mr Crutchley believed he blacked out."

The police were called and arrested Notice, who had cuts to both knuckles.

Mr Crutchley was left with a fracture to his nose and the bone below his left eye.

He also suffered bruising to both eyes, a graze to the top of his ear and a scratch to his neck.

Notice told police he received a call from his partner and he returned to confront Mr Crutchley.

He lost his temper when Mr Crutchley opened the door and hit him more or less straight away.

He said he hit him five or six times to the face and Mr Crutchley's punch did not connect with him.

The defendant said he had wanted to hurt him in some way or another. He regretted causing the injuries.

Notice, of Federation Road, Burslem, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Kevin Mortlock, mitigating, conceded that the television damage was an excuse to go around and have it out with Mr Crutchley.

Mr Mortlock said: "He went to see Mr Crutchley as well because of the difference that has taken place in his absence.

"Both things were on his mind at the time but he had not gone there for a fight."

Recorder Stephen Lowne said with some hesitation he was prepared to take a chance on Notice and sentenced him to a supervision order for two years, with 160 hours of unpaid work and ordered him to pay £500 compensation to his victim.

Recorder Lowne said: "You had gone round to the house where your victim was to have it out with him. When you got there you attacked him.

"He hit back and you attacked him again. You hit him on the ground.

"He had a number of unpleasant injuries. Two were nasty, a fracture to the nose and a fracture to the orbit of the eye, which in some circumstances can have very real consequences. People can be blinded and occasionally brain damaged."