7:00am Monday 28th September 2009
A TEENAGER who broke an old school friend’s nose in a sudden bust-up has avoided going to jail.
Mitchell Allwin, 18, from Merlin Court, Canvey, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm by punching victim Sam Rowe and must pay him £350 compensation.
Allwin was walking with his dad and sister, 20, when the confrontation erupted, Southend Magistrates’ Court heard.
Lesley Chipps, prosecuting, said Allwin and Mr Rowe had known each other for about seven years since school but had lost contact until they had a flare-up at a New Year’s Eve party last year.
Mr Rowe said he next saw Allwin walking towards him in Furtherwick Road, Canvey, on July 26 when he pushed him and punched him on the nose, fracturing it.
District judge Jennifer Edwards said: “You are a young man who has lost your good character now forever. I won’t send you to prison because I think that will achieve nothing. It seems you are very remorseful.”
Representing himself, Allwin, a trainee roofer, said he thought he was going to be attacked because the victim was with two other men.
He said: “I did wrong by hitting him but it was three against one and I panicked.”
As well as the compensation, Allwin was also given a community order, in which he must do 250 hours of unpaid work and pay £85 court costs.
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