Birthday party thug escapes jail sentence

By mcollison matt collison matthew.collison@essnmedia.co.uk

A reveller celebrating a birthday party was pummelled to the ground after bumping into a man on the dance floor.

Daniel Hyland, 21, walked free from Guildford Crown Court with a suspended prison sentence for his part in the violent attack in Leatherhead.

Last Thursday the court heard how Hyland punched and kicked reveller Ross Hollingsworth following celebrations at Leatherhead Football Club on September 26 2008.

He later threatened to kill the same man for telling police about the violent assault.

Alexander Williams, prosecuting, said Mr Hollingsworth was dancing when he bumped into drunken Hyland, who responded by aggressively putting his forehead up to the victim's face.

"Mr Hollingsworth apologised and said he was 'sorry' and the defendant replied 'you had better be'," said Mr Williams.

Mr Hollingsworth later left with friends along Guildford Road when he saw the defendant in a group.

He was subjected to a "torrent of verbal abuse" and tried to flee but was caught, pushed to the ground and punched in the face by Hyland.

He was then kicked repeatedly to his head and body, leaving a gash below his eye with bruising and swelling to his face.

Mr Hollingsworth later identified Hyland, of Webster Close, Oxshott, through Facebook and he was arrested by police.

But when Hyland spotted Mr Hollingsworth again in April last year he threatened him for pressing charges.

Mr Williams said the defendant said 'If I go down, when I come out I will kill you'.

Mr Williams added: "Mr Hollingsworth said he did not want to talk about it and walked away."

Adam James, defending, said when Hyland was interviewed in relation to the intimidation offence, he admitted he spoke to Mr Hollingsworth but denied having intimidated him.

Hyland, who pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intimidating a witness in September, apologised to the court for his actions and said he was ashamed of what he had done.

Mr James added: "Since leaving school at 16 he has been in full-time employment and continues to be in full-time employment."

Judge Peter Moss said Hyland was only spared jail because the case had taken so long to be concluded. He was arrested in November 2008 but not charged until June the following year.

Judge Moss told Hyland: "Your behaviour was absolutely outrageous."

Hyland was given two nine months' suspended prison sentences to be served concurrently, ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to the victim and carry out 200 hours unpaid work.