Thug punched cousin at a family celebration
ADRUNKEN thug who repeatedly punched his cousin at a family birthday party has avoided jail.
Shane Merryweather was attacked by Saul Stanton, of Wardle Edge, Smallbridge, on the afternoon of April 8 last year.
The victim was taken to hospital with a fractured cheekbone and ‘extensive swelling’ to his face.
Stanton, 23, pleaded guilty at Burnley Crown Court to ABH and given a nine-month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months with a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
Prosecutor Emma Kehoe said the incident happened after a ‘confrontation’ between Stanton and Mr Merryweather’s sister Kerry Merryweather.
The court heard how the family were celebrating a child’s birthday at a house in Bacup when Stanton ‘became very agitated and angry’.
Miss Kehoe said Mr Merryweather ‘came to his sister’s assistance’ and found Stanton being held back by another man.
The victim was ‘immediately attacked’ by Stanton, who punched him to the face outside the house in a ‘completely unprovoked’ assault.
Mr Merryweather was punched a further two times before running off to his cousin’s house and calling the police.
Miss Kehoe said it was a ‘sustained assault’ and the victim suffered ‘a nasty injury’.
Defence barrister William Donnelly said Stanton was only ‘lightly convicted’ after being fined in 2015 for a battery offence.
He told the court: “There is an optimistic pre-sentence report with a constructive alternative to an immediate custodial sentence.
“Although he thought he was acting in selfdefence he clearly went over and above anything that could be construed as such.
“It was a family party when he, and I don’t think he was alone, consumed far too much alcohol than was good for him.
“He’s a young man who is lightly convicted. There’s been nothing since this incident.”
The court heard how Stanton is awaiting a mental health assessment after referring him- self to a doctor.
Sentencing, Judge Beverley Lunt said: “You had an excess of alcohol in what should otherwise have been a happy family occasion and you completely lost control.
“This was a nasty and sustained attack on your cousin, resulting in serious injury. Fortunately for you the fracture was not of a nature that required surgery.”