Shropshire Star

Woman's jaw broken in Telford party violence, court told

Violence broke out during a party at a Telford house in which glasses and furniture were damaged and the host suffered a broken jaw, a court heard.

Published

Karen Jackson was taken to hospital after her jaw was broken in the incident at her home in Madeley.

Lee King, 29, a cook at a KFC restaurant, was sentenced to 18 weeks in jail suspended for a year for his role in the melee in October last year when he appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

Judge Peter Barrie said that King, who admitted a charge of affray, was being sentenced on the basis that he struck Miss Jackson once but was not responsible for her broken jaw.

"You and others were guests and this was an unpleasant incident of serious violent disorder," said the judge.

"Miss Jackson's jaw was broken but in the case of such pandemonium and violence it is always difficult to determine what part people played," he added.

King, of Selbourne, Sutton Hill, must also attend a reducing violence programme and complete 100 hours of unpaid work.

His girlfriend, Natasha Parkes, 28, of Meadow Close, Madeley, had also been charged over the incident, but no evidence was offered against her following King's guilty plea at an earlier hearing. No one else had been charged.

The court heard the couple and two friends had been out on October 4 last year, Miss Parkes' birthday, and in the early hours of the next day went to Miss Jackson's home.

Mr Robert Edwards, prosecuting, said they were invited in but later there was a confrontation between King and the host after cigarette ash was flipped about and a number of drinks were knocked over.

"When Miss Jackson asked them to leave, King had become aggressive towards her and there was a scuffle," he said.

"It appears King was struck by Miss Jackson and says he reacted by punching her once in the right eye before there was a general melee in the house."

The court heard King had previous convictions for affray, wounding, battery and criminal damage.

Miss Laura Nash, for King, said her client had had a difficult background but realised he had to deal with his anger issues.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.