A YOUNG thug who left a window cleaner unable to work following an unprovoked attack has walked free from court.

Aarron McGarry was out on his 22nd birthday just weeks after being put on a community order when he left his 40-year-old victim scarred for life in an assault in Walcot.

But after hearing how he had spent a short period in custody before being released on bail to The Wirral, a judge imposed a suspended sentence.

Rachel Marshall, prosecuting, told Swindon crown court how victim Sean McLellan was walking home from shops when he saw two youths on the afternoon of Sunday, August 2.

Earlier that day she said his wife had been in a row with the other lad as he had been trying to sell cannabis to her son.

Mr McLellan was walking across a park carrying a bag of shopping when McGarry approached him and punched him to the ground.

“The victim says he was unsure how he got to the floor but the defendant later admitted punching him,” she said.

“While the victim was still on the floor, the defendant took money out of his pocket and the victim’s bag.”

Mr McLellan got himself home covered in blood from cuts to his head and jaw.

He was taken to hospital where a cut to his cheek needed two stitches, a wound to the top of his head was glued and another needed paper stitches.

The court was told that as a result of the attack the victim was no longer able to work as a window cleaner.

McGarry had initially been charged with robbery but denied that – he instead pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm and theft.

Rob Ross, defending, said his client was produced before the magistrates from custody and released on bail to live with his grandmother on The Wirral.

He said the community order he had just been put on was transferred and he was doing well on the drug programme and has committed no new offences.

Mr Ross said his client was a ‘fairly damaged young man’ but was now living a more structured life in the north of England.

Imposing a suspended sentence, Judge Jamie Tabor QC said: “You are still a young man.

“You have not had an easy life and violence comes easy to you.

“You have spent some time in custody. I have to decide whether or not the sentence I pass, which is inevitably one of imprisonment, should be suspended or not.

“Since your last offence when you appeared before the courts in July you have been under a community order and you have done rather well on it while away from this area.”

He passed an eight month jail term suspended for two years and told McGarry to do 120 hours of community service, be on supervision for 24 months and pay £379.20p compensation.

The judge said if he breached the terms of sentence or re-offended he would come back, and he warned him ‘Bring your bags because you will go to prison’.