Boxer bit man in unprovoked attack

Jamie Lee Maxwell (22), Margretta Park, Lurgan, was jailed for five months for assault causing actual bodily harm on October 25 last year.

Concurrent two months terms were imposed for unlawful assault on a female and disorderly behaviour.

The court heard that police received a report of an assault at Russell Drive, Lurgan, and when they arrived they found the defendant in a garden. He was extremely intoxicated.

Police spoke to the two injured parties. The male victim had a badly injured left eye which was cut and bleeding.

He said he had been punched and the defendant had bit his eye while he was on the ground. Maxwell had also pulled the female’s hair. They did not know the defendant.

When interviewed Maxwell made no comment but in a second interview he said he had no memory of the incident. He had a relevant record.

The injured party had to attend an eye specialist.

District Judge, Mrs Bernie Kelly, said that Maxwell had been out on licence which had just ended on October 10 and she shared the concerns expressed by probation in a pre-sentence report.

Mr Richard Monteith, representing the defendant, said there was no rhyme nor reason for this assault as the parties were not known to each other.

Judge Kelly pointed out that Maxwell had trained as a boxer and was more dangerous than your average individual.

Mr Monteith said his client appreciated his liberty was great risk.

He explained that Maxwell had been sent to the young offenders’ centre where someone attempted to bully him and he used his skills to deal with the matter which led to a fine in court.

Judge Kelly said this was a ‘totally unprovoked attack’ on two people who were at their own home.

“You bit another human being’s eye and cut the eyelid in the process,” she told Maxwell.

She said he had a particularly poor record for violence to the person and she had a duty to protect the public.

Judge Kelly warned Maxwell that he was straddling the ‘dangerous line’ and if he did not change he would be heading to the Crown Court for enhanced sentencing.