Man avoids prison over street attack

Two high-ranking army officers were subjected to a vicious, drunken attack in Scarborough which left one of them unconscious and needing emergency hospital treatment.

The female victims were back home on annual leave andonanightoutwithfriends and family in the town centre when they came across an “altercation” in the street involving 51-year-old businessman and engineer Scott Irwin, hisfriends,andagroupofgirls standing in a shop doorway, York Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Kelly Sherif said that when the two victimstriedtoseparatethewarring factions, Irwin – who had walked away from the initial confrontation but returned after realising his friends were still involved – suddenly turned violent.

One of the women was floored by a “heavy” punch to the face, knocking her unconscious.Herpartner,astaff sergeant in the Royal Logistic Corps, was put in a headlock by Irwin and she too ended up on the ground.

Irwin then kicked her in the head.

She suffered a displaced tooth, bruising and tenderness to her face and a split and swollen lip, but her partner needed emergency hospital treatment after losing consciousness.

Police were called and Irwin was arrested.

He was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to the injuries inflicted on the hospitalised woman and assault by beating in relation to her partner who was kicked in the head.

Headmittedbothoffences and appeared for sentence.

Both victims, who were named in court, made impact statements which were read out in court.

Defence barrister Oliver Cook said that Irwin, from Lancashire, was genuinely remorseful for what he described as a moment of “madness” and had since stopped drinking altogether.

Irwin, who has previous two previous convictions for serious violence, ran a businesswithhispartnerinwhich he worked as a mechanic.

Judge Simon Hickey said the“brutal(and)shocking”attack had had a “drastic effect” on the victims’ personal lives and military duties.

However, he noted Irwin’s glowing character references from people in “responsible positions” and said that because the defendant had made early admissions and efforts to stop drinking, as well as the fact that his business could be in jeopardy if he were sent to jail, he could suspendtheinevitableprison sentence.

Irwin, of Poulton-Le-Fylde, was given an eight-month suspended jail sentence and ordered to carry out 250 hours’ unpaid work, along with 15 days of rehabilitation activity.

He was ordered to pay one of the victims £500 compensation for the damaged teeth andtheotherwoman£400for her injuries.

Irwin was also made to pay £425 prosecution costs.