A CAGE fighter broke a man’s arm with a metal bar at his Worcester flat because he believed the victim had put his hands down his friend’s underpants.
Thomas Porter, known as ‘Tommy’, struck Shaun Skivington with a scaffolding bar at the victim’s home in Diglis Dock Road, Worcester.
The 28-year-old of Holly Mount Road, Tolladine, Worcester, admitted section 20 grievous bodily harm on the basis that he struck a single blow.
He denied he had thrown a vodka bottle at the injured party during the incident on November 21, 2016.
Daniel White, prosecuting, said a 999 call was received from Mr Skivington’s partner who lived in the same block. She told police ‘they’re going to kill him’ and ‘there’s blood everywhere’.
Mr Skivington initially refused to go to hospital but when he did it was discovered he had a fractured right arm.
He said he, Porter and another male had been drinking vodka that evening after an ‘amicable afternoon’ watching wrestling on the television.
However, when Porter returned to the room from the toilet he turned on Mr Skivington, saying: “I’ve just seen what you have done! I saw you with your hands down his trousers!”
This version of events is disputed by Mr Skivington and was described as ‘inaccurate’ by Mr White. However, Jason Aris, Porter’s solicitor, said his client’s allegations were being investigated by police.
Mr White said: “A scaffolding bar of some length present in the flat for a legitimate purpose – to prop open the door onto the balcony – was swung by Mr Porter with great force into the right arm which was raised in defence, causing the fracture.”
In interview Porter described himself as ‘a boxer and cage fighter’ who ‘could handle himself’.
The court heard the attack had left Mr Skivington ‘worried and paranoid if friends come around to his house’ and he was ‘constantly looking over his shoulder’.
He said offensive graffiti relating to Porter’s allegation had appeared on his property. Because of the injury he could no longer lift weights greater than 10kg.
Jason Aris, defending, said Porter had been out of trouble for eight years.
He also argued that Porter, who had been working as a decorator, had ‘various family difficulties’, including his mother receiving a lengthy custodial sentence, a drugs conspiracy case we previously reported.
He added: “He did not accept any form of violence other than one single blow with the bar which the Crown were happy to accept.”
He said the officer in the case wished to speak to Porter about his allegation.
Mr Aris added: “Whether or not there are any charges is open to speculation. I certainly know the Crown in the form of the police intend to investigate the allegation in due course. He (Porter) repeats the assertion that he saw Mr Skivington with his hands down his friend’s underwear.”
Deputy circuit judge Phillip Wassall jailed Porter for 18 months.
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