GT Stewart Solicitors & Advocates represented D who was jointly charged with an offence of S.18 Wounding with intent, possession of an offensive weapon and theft of a bank card. The allegation was that the victim was walking with a group of friends, in a wooded area and saw a number of males approach. He recognised just two of them, D and the co-accused. An argument ensued and the victim alleges D picked up an empty Budweiser glass bottle and hit him over the head several times. Whilst hitting the victim, the bottle smashed and the full group of males at the scene all ended up fighting on the floor. The victim blacked out for a few seconds and when he stood up he dropped his bank card. He alleged that D had picked up his bank card and left the scene with it. The victim suffered a facial wound which had required several stitches and a number of follow up appointments due to damage to the muscle and salivary gland. He required several procedures to strengthen the muscle in his face and skin grafts to assist in the healing of it. D was interviewed by police where he gave a no comment interview on legal advice.

The court decided that the offence was so serious it should be dealt with at Leeds Crown Court and just prior to that hearing the Crown offered no evidence against D and the co-accused.

D was represented by Patricia Walker from the Leeds Crime Team.