Magistrates Persuaded to Sentence on Defendant’s Version of Facts – Case Dealt with by Way of Conditional Discharge!

This defendant was charged with assault by beating and criminal damage and represented before the Magistrates by barrister Millicent Dooher. A guilty plea was entered on a basis of plea in that contact was only made with the Complainant’s camcorder and not the directly with the Complainant. This was rejected by the Prosecution but accepted by the Magistrates that there was no material difference to sentencing. The Prosecution then did not pursue the Criminal Damage charge. Mitigation was put forwards by Millicent who persuaded the Magistrates to deal with the assault by beating by way of a conditional discharge only.