Tormented Nailsworth resident attacked youth with pickaxe handle (From Stroud News and Journal)

Tormented Nailsworth resident attacked youth with pickaxe handle

2:00pm Wednesday 4th November 2009

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A TORMENTED resident claimed he attacked a youth with a pickaxe handle after being lunged at with a knife, a court heard.

Christopher Harris, 37, left the victim with a hole in the head and severe bruising following the incident in Nailsworth on August 1.

Harris said he picked up the weapon to scare off a gang which had provoked his family but ended up striking the youth after he pulled a knife.

Sharon Jomaa, prosecuting at Stroud Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday, said it started at about midnight when Harris was at home socialising with friends and the gang was in the nearby churchyard.

The youths started shouting and swearing at him through an open flat window. They were told to leave but the victim continued the abuse.

Harris took a pickaxe handle, followed the victim and hit him several times, the court heard.

The injuries included severe bruising, lacerations and a head wound which had to be stapled to stop the bleeding.

Ms Jomaa said the Crown Prosecution Service disputed that the victim was armed.

Harris, of Cheltenham High Street, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm.

In a statement read to magistrates, Harris said he and his partner had suffered abuse from the gang after moving into a new flat.

"This group threatened me with violence at least daily and on at least three occasions the injured party threatened me with a knife," he said.

On that night, the victim started shouting, banging on his door and threatening to stab him, he claimed.

He went outside with the pickaxe handle intending to scare the gang off but was forced to use it when the youth approached.

"He was coming towards me with a knife and I was trying to dodge him," he said.

"I hit him with the handle about three times."

He added: "These events would never have taken place if I hadn’t been the subject of incessant provocation from the injured party."

Before sentencing, a hearing to determine whether the victim was armed will be held at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on December 15.

Harris was released on unconditional bail.

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