Shropshire Star

Oswestry teenager jailed over street attack

A man who stepped in as peacemaker to stop a fight in Oswestry town centre was rewarded with a fractured cheekbone.

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The punch came from Kyle Stephenson, 19, a former promising footballer who is now behind bars for the attack.

Stephenson was sentenced to a 10-month order in a young offenders' institute for attacking two men after losing his temper in Oswestry.

Stephenson of College Road, Oswestry, had admitted assault causing grievous bodily harm and assault by battery at a previous hearing.

He this week appeared for sentence at Shrewsbury Crown Court, where he was told the seriousness of the attack merited a custodial sentence. Judge Robin Onions said Stephenson would have to serve half the sentence before release on licence.

Mr Howard Searle, prosecuting, said the attack happened on December 14 at about 4am in Oswestry town centre.

Stephenson, who had been drinking, and another man, who has never been apprehended, was involved in the disturbance.

They set on their first victim and a female.

Mr Searle told the court that the victim was attacked by both men and suffered punches to his face.

The second victim then tried to act as a peacemaker to separate the parties, urging them to stop fighting.

Mr Searle told the court: "Stephenson punched his left cheek before walking off."

He was later arrested and admitted his involvement. But he refused to name the other man, opting instead to take the full punishment alone.

The court heard the second victim's injuries were so serious that he needed surgery.

Mr Searle said he was found to have a triple fracture of his cheek under his eye socket and had to have an operation.

Defence counsel Paul Smith, for Stephenson, said his client was a hard worker who had lost a promising career as a footballer through injury. He said his offending had involved alcohol but said that thanks to a probation order imposed since the December incidents for another offence he had addressed his drinking problems.

Judge Onions said Stephenson had not learnt from his actions in the past.

"You are a hard worker but when you go out and drink too much you do stupid things.

"The man acted as a peacemaker and received a triple fracture to his cheek for his troubles," the judge said.

The judge also criticised the time that the case had taken to get to court.

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