Last updated at 16:53, Thursday, 28 February 2013

AN attacker who stamped on a man’s head in a working men’s club has been jailed.

Shaun Clifford Fleming was yesterday sentenced to 18 weeks in prison.

The 47-year-old, of Robert Street, Barrow, had already admitted assaulting Robert Davies in Preston Street Working Men’s Club, Barrow, on January 8.

He was also forbidden from entering the club for two years.

Mrs Lisa Hine, prosecuting, told Furness Magistrates’ Court the stamp left Mr Davies with a large footprint on the side of his face and a cut to his nose.

There was some dispute between Fleming and witnesses over how many times he stamped on the complainant, but he was sentenced on the basis that he admitted to stamping twice.

The court heard Fleming lost his temper when Mr Davies’ girlfriend brushed past and spilt a drink over him.

Mrs Hine said Fleming pushed Mr Davies to the chest, causing him to fall off his seat to the floor and bang his head. She said Mr Davies looked up and Fleming stamped on him.

He said he tried to protect himself, but Fleming only stopped when other people dragged him away, Mrs Hine said.

A woman who witnessed the incident described Fleming as “like a raging lunatic”.

In her statement she added: “You don’t go for a night out to see things like that.”

Under police interview, Fleming said he had been drinking during the course of the day.

Mr Trystan Roberts, defending, said: “He has told police that he simply snapped.

“It was the straw that broke the camel’s back – after recent months of stress and difficulties in his own life. He completely and utterly over-reacted and has no excuse for it whatsoever.”

Mr Roberts said Fleming cares for a step-son, 15, with severe learning difficulties and, in relation to a conviction for assault in November, he had reacted angrily to a person who “repeatedly insulted” the boy.

Mr Roberts also said Fleming’s mother had been diagnosed with three brain tumours and he had been caring for her.

First published at 16:37, Thursday, 28 February 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk