Reveller struck woman by accident during birthday bash

A booze-fuelled reveller accidentally struck a woman in the face as he swung out to hit someone else during a birthday bash.
Chesterfield magistrates' court.Chesterfield magistrates' court.
Chesterfield magistrates' court.

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Friday, July 1, how Thomas Ankers, 22, of Victoria Park Road, Buxton, had been celebrating his birthday when he assaulted Amber Jordan at the Wye Bridge pub in Buxton.

Prosecuting solicitor Ian Shaw said: “It was a birthday bash in both meanings of the word. It was Ankers’ birthday and he had gone to the pub to celebrate with friends, and Amber Jordan and her boyfriend were at the pub.

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“Ankers knew one of the other lads and there was a disagreement and the lads with Ankers were described as being loud and very drunk or on drugs.”

The police were called, according to Mr Shaw, and spoke to one of the revellers but as others were walking away Ms Jordan was struck to her left temple by Ankers as the defendant tried to hit someone else.

Mr Shaw added: “It was not a blow that had been intended to hit her but Ankers readily accepted what had happened.”

Ankers told police he had gone to the pub with friends and he became upset by the way his ex-girlfriend had been behaving and he had issues with another male.

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Mr Shaw added that Ankers had become angry and wanted to hit a man called Mole but he hit Ms Jordan by accident as he struck out.

Ankers told police that he felt very badly about catching Miss Jordan and said he would never intend to slap a woman.

Mr Shaw claimed Ankers had punched Miss Jordan but Ankers claimed he had slapped her during the incident on June 7.

Ankers contacted Mole and Miss Jordan after the incident to apologise, according to Mr Shaw.

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The defendant also told the court that alcohol had played a role in his behaviour.

He pleaded guilty to committing assault.

Magistrates sentenced Ankers to a 12 month community order with an 18 day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement to address his alcohol use and anger management.

He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation.

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