Drunken night led to attack with baseball bat

10:10am Thursday 21st August 2008

A MAN who brandished a baseball bat has been sentenced to unpaid work after attacking someone during a drink-fuelled evening.

Christopher Reynolds, 38, of Crawford Close, Freshbrook, received 280 hours of community service and an 18-month suspended sentence after admitting four charges, including assault by beating and possessing a weapon, in court on Monday.

The incident occurred on November 3, 2007 when James ‘Jimbo’ Gordon said he saw Reynolds arguing with a local man known as ‘Deaf Roy’.

Roxanne Cole, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Gordon asked Reynolds to stop treating him badly, drunken Reynolds lashed out at him and threatened to get his brother.

When Mr Gordon returned home Reynolds was waiting at his door with a baseball bat, the court heard.

Miss Cole said Reynolds first stuck the weapon into Mr Gordon’s mouth, and then swung it violently several times, eventually hitting him in the neck.

When police arrived at the scene, the court was told, they found Reynolds holding the bat 100 metres from Mr Gordon’s property at which point he began to run away.

When they finally cornered him, police at the scene said he began staring at them in an aggressive manner while swinging the bat from side to side.

The prosecutor said that police officers said Reynolds was being so belligerent that they eventually had to spray CS gas at him to get him into custody.

Tony Nowogrodzki, defending, said there were many incidents which led to the drunken events of the evening.

He said his client was not the type to be seen wandering around the town centre drinking cider, but that he did have a problem with binge drinking.

He said: “A lot of depression had built up in the lead up to this evening.

“Mr Reynolds is a very lonely and isolated man – his ex-partner doesn’t let him see his kids, his home is a very sad place.”

He added that his client also claimed that during the evening of the incident Mr Gordon had thrown a can of dog food at his head.

Reynolds also pleaded guilty to charges of racially aggravated intentional harassment after yelling racial abuse at Mr Gordon and obstructing a constable in the execution of his duties.

Reynolds was also ordered to complete the Think First Programme – a scheme created to help offenders tackle their attitudes and behaviour.