Eye socket was shattered in street row over ‘bad-mouthing’

A DERBYSHIRE man fractured another man’s eye socket when he rained punches on his face and head in the street.

Derby Crown Court heard how Kyle Piper had gone to “clear the air” with the victim over allegations he had been “bad-mouthing” his partner.

The 33-year-old father, annoyed at what he said was a “childish” reaction from the victim, chose to attack him with his fists.

Handing him a 14-week jail sentence, suspended for two years, Recorder Nicholas Bacon QC said: “I have to say I am wholly unconvinced there was any justification at all for unleashing the violence you did on (the victim). It was six or seven heavy punches to his head resulting in a fracture to his eye socket.

“You should be utterly ashamed of what you did, it was a completely disgraceful episode and you are lucky he did not have more serious injuries.

“He was in hospital for eight hours and the surgeon said it could have been a lot, lot, worse.”

Eunice Opare-Addo, prosecuting, said the victim was at work on November 11 last year when he received a message from Piper’s partner. She said in it the woman challenged the man that he had been “bad-mouthing” her which he replied that he had not.

Miss Opare-Addo said: “He (the victim) left work and went home and when he arrived he saw the defendant standing outside his house. The defendant brought up the text message and the complainant informed him he had not been bad-mouthing his partner.

“The complainant told the defendant to leave but he refused so the complainant turned to leave and was attacked by the defendant by way of punches, raining multiple blows to his face, head, back and neck.”

Miss Opare-Addo said Piper, of Staley Close, Swadlincote, left. It was later discovered the victim, also of Swadlincote, received the fractured eye socket as well as cuts and bruises.

Piper pleaded guilty to assault occasioning grievous bodily harm. He has one previous conviction for drink-driving from 2008.

Will Bennett, mitigating, said his client has very recently become a father to a young son and that his partner has six children in total. He said if Piper, who builds electric motors for a living, was sent to prison immediately it would have a devastating effect on the family.

Mr Bennett said: “The defendant, the defendant’s partner and the complainant at one time had been good friends. There seems to have been some pressure about a loan not being paid, things were said and he went to the address to clear the air.

“He says the complainant responded in a childish way and unfortunately the result was this short, sharp and rather nasty assault. He did not need to do it and he well accepts it was yobbish behaviour that falls well below what he expects from himself.”

As part of the suspended sentence Recorder Bacon ordered Piper to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and attend 20 rehabilitation sessions.

It was a completely disgraceful episode and you are lucky he did not have more serious injuries.

Recorder Nicholas Bacon QC