Victim was attacked outside pub - 6th Jan 2009 7:06pm
A COUPLE who attacked a man outside a Birkenhead pub have walked free from court.
Barry Smith set on Kevin Haigh after inviting him outside the Cleveland public house in Cleveland Street and his then-girlfriend Sarah Norman joined in.
Smith had invited him outside earlier and after a chat they both went back inside the pub but he then persuaded him to come back out, said Ben Morris, prosecuting.
On the steps of the premises Smith started kicking and punching him and they then went down the side of the pub where Norman joined in, kicking and punching him and she bit his right ear.
The victim suffered bruising and swelling to his face and his ear. The police arrived and the couple were arrested.
36-year-old Smith, of Prenton Dell Road, Prenton, had faced trial accused of wounding but that was dropped on the second day of the trial and he pleaded guilty to affray.
Norman, 24, of Lincoln Drive, Wallasey, pleaded guilty to wounding.
She was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment suspended for two years and placed under supervision for 18 months.
She must attend an alcohol treatment programme and is under a curfew between 8pm - 7am for the next three months.
Smith was made the subject of a two-year community order and placed under supervision for 12 months. His barrister, Eric Lamb, said that Smith, who has previous convictions, had demonstrated remorse.
His out-of-character offence resulted from a combination of drink and anger over an unpaid £25 debt.
John Dixon, defending, said that Norman has no previous convictions and at the time had a serious drink problem.
She was in a relationship with Smith at the time but is now in a new relationship and dealing with her problems.
Barry Smith set on Kevin Haigh after inviting him outside the Cleveland public house in Cleveland Street and his then-girlfriend Sarah Norman joined in.
Smith had invited him outside earlier and after a chat they both went back inside the pub but he then persuaded him to come back out, said Ben Morris, prosecuting.
On the steps of the premises Smith started kicking and punching him and they then went down the side of the pub where Norman joined in, kicking and punching him and she bit his right ear.
The victim suffered bruising and swelling to his face and his ear. The police arrived and the couple were arrested.
36-year-old Smith, of Prenton Dell Road, Prenton, had faced trial accused of wounding but that was dropped on the second day of the trial and he pleaded guilty to affray.
Norman, 24, of Lincoln Drive, Wallasey, pleaded guilty to wounding.
She was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment suspended for two years and placed under supervision for 18 months.
She must attend an alcohol treatment programme and is under a curfew between 8pm - 7am for the next three months.
Smith was made the subject of a two-year community order and placed under supervision for 12 months. His barrister, Eric Lamb, said that Smith, who has previous convictions, had demonstrated remorse.
His out-of-character offence resulted from a combination of drink and anger over an unpaid £25 debt.
John Dixon, defending, said that Norman has no previous convictions and at the time had a serious drink problem.
She was in a relationship with Smith at the time but is now in a new relationship and dealing with her problems.