A person who had suffered a “somewhat depressing background” was handed a suspended sentence after admitting he punched his sufferer, fired ball bearings at him – after which ‘shot up’ up his own residence.
Patrick Egan, of Plymstock Highway pleaded responsible at Plymouth Crown Court to the offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage following an incident on the night time of December 4 final 12 months.
Prosecutors defined that 25-year-old Egan was residing together with his girlfriend Vicky Carpenter in a property in Cookworthy Highway, North Prospect on the time and had invited a neighbour Robin Thornton over for a social night.
Nevertheless, by the early hours of December 5 Egan needed Mr Thornton to depart, saying he needed to go to mattress and the person ought to get out. Mr Thornton query who Egan thought he was speaking to, whereupon Egan lunged on the sitting man and punched him roughly ten instances to his head and face.
Mr Thornton then stood up, which resulted in Egan grabbing a catapult and ball bearing ammunition which he then started to fireplace at Mr Thornton, placing him within the face and inflicting cuts.

Egan then left the property however continued to fireplace ball bearings on the home windows of the Cookworthy Highway property. Ms Carpenter and Mr Thornton found their cell phones had been now lacking they usually had been unable to name police as Egan shouted and fired on the property for the following hour earlier than he lastly fled the scene.
Police attended Egan’s tackle in Plymstock Highway the following day the place he denied having a catapult or the cell phones.
A search of the property resulted within the discovery of each cell phones and the catapult used within the assault – together with 5 different catapults.
A sufferer influence assertion by Mr Thornton revealed that he already suffered Publish Traumatic Stress Dysfunction and nervousness and the assault had left him feeling terrified to depart his house in case he encountered Egan once more.
The court heard that the injury to the Plymouth Communities House property amounted to £1,160.40. Prosecutors additionally defined how Egan had earlier convictions for theft, housebreaking, evasion of railway charges and a few minor assault issues.
In mitigation, his advocate Ali Rafati defined that Egan had feared that Mr Thornton suffered psychological well being and studying difficulties and was “working intellectually at a stage far beneath” common. He confirmed that Egan and the others current had consumed medicine and alcohol that night time and having believed that Mr Thornton was solely going to be on the property for a short while, by 3.30am he needed to go to mattress and Mr Thornton to depart. Nevertheless, Ms Carpenter appeared completely happy for Mr Thornton to stay longer.
Egan’s somewhat abrupt insistence that Mr Thornton go away resulted within the latter remarking “who do you suppose you’re speaking to?”
Mr Rafati stated Egan’s actions that night time had resulted ultimately of his relationship and alternative to stay at that tackle.
He added that Egan had endured a “somewhat depressing background”, saying that up till the age of 15 Egan lived together with his father. Nevertheless, when his father went into hospital his mom took over the property and threw him out. Mr Rafati stated that Egan has spent the final 9 years residing on the streets, sleeping in store doorways and leaping aboard trains travelling across the nation at night time within the hope of a dry and heat atmosphere.
He stated that one man had “handled him with kindness” in Kent, and when that man moved to Plymouth, Egan determined he would relocate to stay on the streets right here, for no different purpose than the person had moved right here.
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Mr Rafati informed the courtroom his consumer suffered dyslexia, ADHD and had poor prospects.
His Honour Choose William Mousley QC informed Egan he can be made topic of a 34 week jail sentence, suspended for 18 months. As well as he must full 180 hours unpaid work and full as much as 25 Rehabilitation Exercise Requirement days. As well as, Egan must pay £156 sufferer surcharge and be topic to a two 12 months restraining order to not contact both Ms Carpenter or Mr Thornton or attend the Cookworthy Highway property.
Choose Mousley requested for the forfeiture and destruction of the catapult used within the assault – however was knowledgeable that police must return the remaining 5 catapults seized from Egan’s house.