Spared jailed: Shropshire man who stamped on woman and dragged her down stairs at house party

David Hayfield, 26, who had been drinking heavily, attacked the victim as she attempted to intervene in a row.

The victim was left unconscious and her injuries included damage to her right shoulder for which she is still receiving treatment 18 months after the incident.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court on Friday Hayfield was given a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Recorder Martin Jackson said Hayfield had a previous conviction and a caution for assaults and there was a pattern of alcohol related violence.

He said he accepted that Hayfield had taken steps to address his drinking since the assault in June 2015, and that he no longer socialised with the same group of people.

Hayfield, of Culmington, Stirchley, Telford, had pleaded guilty to assaulting the victim causing actual bodily harm on the day he was due to face trial, but had disputed the stamping evidence.

At a hearing last week Recorder Jackson heard from witnesses and concluded that he was satisfied that the defendant had stamped on the victim.

He said the victim had been dragged down a short flight of stairs by the hair and attacked as she was trying to calm the defendant.

The court heard the victim still had problems with her neck and had attended hospital over Christmas.

She was awaiting a scan to determine if there was damage to her spine.

Recorder Jackson ordered that Hayfield should pay her £1,500 compensation and that he must compete 240 hours' unpaid work.

Hayfield, who is unemployed, was also made the subject of a five-year restraining order not to approach or contact the victim.

Mrs Debra White, for Hayfield, said her client's recollection of the incident was not clear but accepted he was in the wrong and had expressed his regret.

She said he had realised he had an alcohol problem and had stopped drinking and had isolated himself from the people with whom he had previously associated.