Rhyl,North Wales - Thug jailed for 'cowardly, sneaky' punch on female stranger in Rhyl street

Published date: 17 November 2016 | 

Published by: Staff reporter
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A man who delivered a “cowardly, sneaky” punch to a stranger in Rhyl, knocking her unconscious, was jailed for two years.

Mold Crown Court heard how the victim – who was also kicked to the thigh when she was on the ground – had suffered a perforated ear drum.

The attacker, Francis Curtis, 42, of Maes Gwyn in Flint, was due to go on trial on a charge of assault, but changed his plea to guilty.

Judge Niclas Parry said it was an attack on a total stranger in a Rhyl street when he was under the influence of alcohol.

“You delivered a cowardly, sneaky punch and the complainant ended up unconscious,” the judge told him.

“She was also kicked. She suffered a perforated ear drum and some loss of hearing.”

At that stage Curtis called out from the dock “It was not a punch, it was a slap.”

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The judge said that the assault was aggravated by his previous convictions.

He said that the defendant had two convictions for wounding, five convictions for ABH and 12 convictions for common assault or assault on police.

Prosecuting barrister John Philpotts said that a group of people had left a public house on the night of February 28 and there had been a falling out between them.

Following an altercation, he delivered a sly punch to the side of the victim’s head, which knocked her down, and he kicked her to the thigh while she was on the ground.

Arrested and interviewed, he denied assaulting her and denied that it was him on CCTV footage that could be seen of the assault.

Michael Whitty, defending, said his client appreciated that imprisonment was inevitable.

Mr whitty said his record was very poor but some of the convictions were very old and there had been “a slowing down” in offending in recent years.

The use of a shod foot was an aggravating feature but it was not that kick which caused the injuries, said Mr Whitty.

http://www.rhyljournal.co.uk/news/169185/thug-jailed-for-cowardly-sneaky-punch-on-female-stranger-in-rhyl-street.aspx