Taxi Driver Online

The Sunderland Echo

May 11, 2007

Attacker wins jail appeal

A TAXI driver and club committee man has won his appeal against a jail sentence for assaulting a neighbour. Barry Hubbard was locked up for 16 weeks by Peterlee magistrates for attacking Shaun Mann.

Hubbard, 38, of Maritime Crescent, Horden, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm on December 31, 2005. He appealed against the sentence of 16 weeks to a judge and two magistrates sitting at Durham Crown Court.

Richard Cowen, for the Crown, said Hubbard had attacked his neighbour in the early hours of the morning. The pair later scuffled in the street and Mr Mann was pushed to the ground, hitting his head on the pavement, which caused a wound needing five stitches.

Don MacFaul, for Hubbard, said: "While he accepts he pushed Mr Mann, there was no intention to cause him injury." The Recorder, Mr John Aitken, quashed the jail sentence and substituted a supervison order lasting 12 months.
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