The victim of an unprovoked assault at Garston Park that left him with a broken nose and fractured eye socket asked the court not to send his attacker to prison.
Corbyn Hands, 21, beat up a man who simply told him to throw his Red Bull in the bin. Hands was walking with two others in Garston Park on July 19 last year when he was seen to drop the drink can.
St Albans Crown Court today (Friday, July 26) heard that the victim’s nose is permanently deformed and he suffers breathing issues. He is now anxious about going to the park where he had taken his children.
Despite the injuries, the victim had written to the court saying that he did not want Hands to go to prison. He said he wanted him to do something to help the community.
When the victim saw Hands littler, he got out of his car and said: “You just threw it on the floor, mate. There is a bin over there.”
Hands replied: “F… off you fat c…”
The prosecutor said the victim again told him to put the can in the bin. He warned him: “Put it in the bin or I will call the police as you clearly have drugs on you.”
Hands swore at him again and punched him to the ground, where he kicked him in the ribs.
The victim was treated in hospital for a broken nose and fractured eye socket.
Hands, of Ovaltine Drive, Kings Langley, appeared for sentence having pleaded guilty causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He had no previous convictions or cautions.
Defending, Jonathan Woodcock said: “This is a great shame – this man does his public duty and gets assaulted. I am sure many people would hesitate precisely because of what has happened here.”
He said Hands, who works in a kitchen, was a vulnerable young man who had made a terrible mistake. He had never been to mainstream school and had learning difficulties.
Judge Stephen Warner told him: “On the day in question, you had dropped litter and a member of the public intervened and challenged you. He was met with unpleasant abuse. You punched him to the ground – it was entirely unprovoked.”
The judge said he had been persuaded to pass a suspended sentence, saying: “You have come as close as possible to going to prison. You can consider yourself extremely fortunate you are not going to prison today.”
He was sentenced to 12 months suspended for 21 months. He was ordered to carry out 20 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement, 200 hours’ unpaid work and pay a ‘token’ amount of compensation of £150 to the victim.
Photo courtesy of Friends of Garston Park
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