A man who committed a single-strike attack on Carlisle’s Botchergate has been warned he could receive a prison sentence.
Ben Fearon, 24, appeared in the dock at Carlisle Crown Court and admitted unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on William Branstone.
His crime was committed during an incident close to the city centre on Sunday, November 13 last year and involved a single blow by the defendant.
The court heard Fearon had clearly lost his temper with the complainant for lashing out.
Defence solicitor, Marion Weir, said Fearon had put forward a formal basis for his guilty plea and accepted his actions were beyond reasonable in the circumstances.
The injured party had no recollection of an incident captured by CCTV, the court was told.
Judge Nicholas Barker adjourned the case, directing that a probation service pre-sentence report should be prepared to assist with the sentencing exercise. That is due to take place at the crown court on September 11.
“As you will appreciate, this is a serious offence. The court will have in mind a custodial sentence,” Judge Barker said to Fearon, of Sycamore Road, Maryport.
But the judge added: “That doesn’t mean that the decision has been made. All options will remain open when the court will consider all evidence on the day of sentence.”
Until then, Fearon was granted unconditional bail by the judge.
