Thug hit reveller ‘in defence of pal’
ATHUG with a history of violence claimed he hit a reveller because he was trying to defend his ‘diminutive’ friend.
Thomas Edwin Forshaw, 24, gave the victim a backhanded swipe when ‘he saw his friend pushed in the chest’, a court heard.
It caused a two centimetre cut above the victim’s eye, a small cut to the bridge of his nose and wrecked his glasses, prosecutors said.
At Macclesfield magistrates’ court, Forshaw of Brynmore Drive, Macclesfield, admitted assault by beating, criminal damage, and possessing cannabis.
But the court heard that Forshaw admitted the assault on a basis that he swiped at the victim recklessly rather than punched him deliberately, as was claimed by the prosecu- tion. Magistrates sentenced Forshaw to a community order with 150 hours unpaid work.
Lauren Costello, prosecuting, said: “[The victim] went out to the town centre at about 8.30pm and had six pints. He described himself as merry. He went to the taxi rank when the defendant approached him asking if he wanted to share a taxi with him. He said he tried to get away from him and was punched.
“[The victim] said ‘what was that about?” and walked off.
“The prosecution believe this was a deliberate act not reckless as claimed by the defendant.
“[The victim] suffered a 2cm cut above his eye and a small cut on the bridge of his nose. His glasses broke falling to the floor. The damage is valued at £100.”
The court heard that Forshaw has previous convictions for violence including 16 months in a young offenders institute for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Stephen Evans, defending, said Forshaw admitted the assault but had a different version of events leading up to it.
He said: “His basis of plea is that he saw his 18-year-old friend arguing with the victim, who he saw push his friend. Mr Forshaw then swiped his hand to protect him. It was a reckless act.
“He says his friend is a diminutive figure and was pushed in the chest. That is when the defendant came along.
“His reaction was an instinctive action in defence of his friend.
“CCTV I believe doesn’t show a punch but a backhanded swipe.”
Magistrates also ordered Forshaw to pay his victim £150 in compensation for the damage to his glasses and his injuries.