Headbutt over ashes row

Published on 22nd November 2007 in News

A FAMILY row over a dead man's ashes turned into an ugly brawl on a night out in Goole.

It resulted in the widow's sister being head-butted and taken to hospital in an ambulance and relatives giving statements at the police station.

Hull Crown Court heard on Friday how fighting broke out in the Royal Hotel in Goole's Aire Street when Stephen Williams and a woman began exchanging words over the final resting place for his uncle's ashes.

The woman in question had been going out with Stephen Williams' uncle before he died. She had kept the ashes, which had led to a disagreement with Mr Williams over what was to be done with them.

The court heard how the woman and her sister, who ended up being assaulted, had been out drinking in Goole from 1pm on May 6 and had drunk five pints before moving on to alcopops.

Mr Williams, too, was out drinking and had two to three bottles of Budweiser before an argument erupted when they saw each other in the Royal.

At some point drink was thrown between the pair and shouting and swearing started. A witness said: "The next thing, fighting started."

A man hit Mr Williams on the back of the head and he went to the ground. Mr Williams was then frogmarched out of the premises by two men, who held his hands behind his back.

Mr Williams, who has convictions for violence, then allegedly saw red.

Crown barrister Michael Robinson said: "As Williams was being manhandled the victim approached. The defendant believed she was going to assault him so he pre-empted it by head-butting her.

"He said it was self defence and it went too far."

The victim felt faint and her legs gave way as she collapsed to the floor. She was taken to hospital in an ambulance. She was treated for a D-shaped 3cm cut above her left eyebrow, which was stitched.

"In a victim impact report, the victim said she said felt upset and angry that she had been assaulted," said Mr Robinson.

"He was arrested and interviewed. He said he was thrown out of the pub. He said the victim had come in his face and spat. He accepted he saw red and he head-butted her."

Mr Williams (42), of Airmyn Avenue in Goole, hid his face before appearing in court for sentence. He had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of assault.

The court heard that he had a previous conviction for violent disorder and burglary and had been given a 21-month prison sentence.

Although he had convictions for dishonesty, assault on a police officer and actual bodily harm, he had stayed out of trouble for 10 years.

Defence barrister Steven Garth said Mr Williams accepted that his actions had been out of all proportion but at the time of the assault he had his hands behind his back and had previously been attacked himself.

Recorder Paul Miller ordered Mr Williams to stand as he told him: "This was a very unpleasant offence, which crossed the custody threshold."

He ordered Mr Williams should be given a six-month suspended prison sentence, pay £900 costs and £500 compensation to his victim.