A violent DJ avoids jail sentence
21st January, 2008
Malcolm Stone, 39, assaulted Martin Bingham by headbutting him, making him fall down the flight of stairs in the Mecca Bingo hall, in North Street, October 5. He admitted his wrongdoings but said he “saw red mist and lost control”, which later on could have been one of the critical factors in the decision made to spear him from the jail sentence.
According to the facts, Stone was in the Mecca Bingo halls with his friends, at the time when him and Mr Bingham’s ex began to argue. The physical involvement started after Mr Bingham tried to defend his ex by telling Stone to leave her alone, a phrase that caused Stone to headbutt the defender, which in terms caused him to lose balance and fall down the stairs.
After Bingham went to stand up at the bottom of the stairs, Stone punched the men again and kicked him after he fell down on his back.
Thanks to the Stone’s friend, who pulled him away, the way wasn’t harmed any more. Stone was arrested later that day and his victim was taken to hospital with severe bruising and swelling to an eye and the nose as well as the cut to the head.
Ben Winzer, the prosecutor, asked to bar Stone from a list of licensed premises in the city. Stone, who works as a DJ for extra income, had a winning factor in his favour: he agreed to attend an 8 week course for anger and emotional management therapy.
He has attended his first session and his solicitor explained what happened as a nasty incident and claimed that Stone "saw a red mist and lost control of himself."
"He is a man who can control his temper but is on a very short trigger," she tried to explain to the court.
Magistrates sentenced Stone to four months in prison suspended for two years, ordered to be supervised by the probation service for two years, attend an aggression replacement therapy course, carry out 100 hours unpaid work in the community and pay £225 compensation to the victim and £70 costs to the bingo hall.
