A WORKINGTON teen and aspiring Armed Forces driver left his victim with eye socket fractures after an unprovoked one-punch attack.

Ben Robinson, 19, had downed five points of Stella lager before trouble flared in a John Street car park on February 27 last year.

Callum Ridley had been there with friends, Carlisle Crown Court was told.

“They came across a group of about 20 people, including the defendant. The defendant, then 18, accused one of Mr Ridley’s friends of being ‘lippy’,” said prosecutor Jane Dagnall.

“The victim didn’t understand what that expression meant. He asked him to clarify that. It seems he was suddenly punched by the defendant to the face, left side of the head, the defendant using a clenched right fist.”

It was a “hard blow”, Ms Dagnall continued, as if Robinson had been wearing a glove, although the prosecution could not be sure.

Mr Ridley was left bleeding, an ambulance was called and he was taken to hospital.

His injuries included eye socket fractures and significant bruising. There appeared to have been no lasting pain nor altered facial sensation.

Robinson, of Gray Street, Workington, later admitted causing grievous bodily harm.

The court heard he had no previous convictions but received a cocaine possession conditional discharge while the GBH proceedings were ongoing.

Kim Whittlestone, defending, said of Robinson’s violence: “This is a young man who bitterly regrets his actions on that occasion, and had pleaded guilty.”

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He had a job, responsibility for a young child and harboured hopes of joining the Armed Forces. A previous admission date had been postponed due to criminal proceedings, but may yet be revisited.

“His desire has always been to be a member of the Armed Forces, specifically as a driver,” said Miss Whittlestone. “While he knows he has put that in jeopardy by his offending, he is still determined to see whether he can make a go of that career.”

 

Lord Justice Edis suspended a six-month custodial sentence for 12 months. Robinson must complete rehabilitation, 150 hours’ unpaid work, a 28-day night time curfew and pay his victim £500 compensation.

“This was a serious offence of inflicting grievous bodily harm,” said Lord Justice Edis. “A picture of drunken violence and the abuse of class A drugs is a worrying state for a young man starting his life.”

But the judge concluded: “You have a job, you have ambition and you have potential. In my judgement it would be wrong to impose that (custodial) sentence on you with immediate effect.”

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