Trio spared jail after drunken Wolverhampton attack
Three revellers leapt out of a taxi and launched a drunken attack on a group walking along a Wolverhampton street, a court heard.
Corey Mason, Jason Painter and Jacob Bunn had been out at a nightclub in Wolverhampton when they saw a man gesticulating at the taxi they were travelling in.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard the trio got out of the cab in Lichfield Street in the city centre and became involved in a brawl with the man and two other victims.
Mr Paul Reid, prosecuting, said: "An argument ensued and there was some pushing between Bunn and one of the victims.
"He threw a punch and a series of blows were exchanged.
"A female victim attempted to intervene but she was pushed to the floor. Mason then joined in and kicked the first male victim in the face, as did Painter.
"A second male victim was struck and fell down in the road. He was then kicked by Mason on a number of occasions to the head and ribs."
The court was told one victim was taken to hospital with eye and neck injuries as a result of the assault on October 5 last year.
Mr Reed added all three defendants had told police officers they had been drinking heavily prior to the incident.
Miss Heidi Kubick, defending Mason, described him as a hard working young man who would not ordinarily get involved in trouble.
"He has thrown away his good character for the sake of 34 seconds," she said. "He is shocked and horrified by what he has done."
Ms Paula Bignall said of Bunn: "He is disgusted at how he behaved and knows what he did was entirely unacceptable."
Painter's counsel Mr Mukhtar Ubhi, said: "He is not the type of person to commit offences of any type. This was an isolated incident. He admits he tried to kick the injured party but said he missed and kicked his friend instead."
The court was told all three defendants had previously been of good character.
Mason, aged 20, of Kidd Croft in Tipton, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.
He was sentenced to four months in custody suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay £900 compensation.
Painter, aged 19, of Bank Street, Coseley, and Bunn, aged 19, of Pear Tree Lane, Coseley, both pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
They were sentenced to four months in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work.
Painter and Bunn were also ordered to pay £750 and £300 compensation respectively.
