A man seriously injured his ex-girlfriend’s new lover in an ‘opportunistic’ street attack.
Ashley Adams-Betterton, 21, appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (26 January) for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Crown prosecutor Keith Ballinger said the victim was walking down Drove Road towards The Merlin pub when he heard someone running up behind him. Thinking it was a jogger, he did not look round.
Moments later the victim was struck in the face by a single blow. His jaw shifted sideways and his mouth filled with blood.
The defendant, of Cumberland Road, Old Walcot, had punched the man in the face from behind. The victim’s girlfriend – previously Adams-Betterton’s girlfriend – grabbed him and told him to “go away”.
Emergency services were called to the horror incident, on 19 August last year, and the injured man was rushed to Great Western Hospital. He was later transferred to John Radcliffe Hospital for surgery, where two permanent metal plates were fitted on his jaw.
The court heard that months before the incident, Adams-Betterton sent abusive messages to his ex-girlfriend referring to any future partners she may have.
In a personal statement about the impact of the assault, the man said that he rarely goes out and no longer walks in darkness. He told of how he can’t chew food on the left due to intense numbness and the sensation that his teeth are loose.
He had to cancel a holiday to Tenerife following the attack, in which he lost his money. He also cancelled this driving test because it was unsafe to attend.
The man said he has stopped going to the gym or nightclubs because he no longer feels safe. He said he has stopped going to his local pub out of fear the defendant may be there.
Emma Thacker, defending, said that her client has no mental health issues and no drug or drinking issues. She said the incident was “out of character” and not pre-meditated – adding that the messages sent to his ex-girlfriend did not specify the victim specifically.
She said that Adams-Betterton was walking to Aldi when, by chance, he saw the pair together. He “became very emotional” and “didn’t know how to deal with it”.
Ms Thacker said he was in a relationship with the woman for four years, they had “been through a lot of growing up together” and he didn’t take the “out of the blue” break up very well.
She said he is “incredibly remorseful”, adding that he was relieved and happy to see the victim at a football match after the attack, smiling and enjoying himself with his friends.
Ms Thacker said her client “feels terrible” and has “no ill will towards him”. She said he hopes that his victim has no lasting injuries and if he could apologise, he “would love to say sorry to his face”.
She said Adams-Betterton is living with his parents and has saved around £20,000 towards buying a house – confirming that he’s happy to use some of that money to pay compensation to the victim.
The magistrates imposed a 16-week prison sentence suspended for two years. He must also complete 240 hours of unpaid work, pay costs and a surcharge.
£6,000 was awarded to the victim as compensation.
