Westbury ex-soldier attacked mum's new partner (From This Is Wiltshire)

Westbury ex-soldier attacked mum's new partner

8:17am Monday 6th September 2010 in

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A middle aged former TA soldier from Westbury who launched a vicious assault on his mum’s new partner has been put on a community order.

Mark Pople, of Upper Garston Lane, Bratton, Westbury, set punched his victim repeatedly in the face in a row over a wet dog getting on to the sofa.

But after hearing how the incident was out of character for the 49-year-old, who served in the Territorial Army, a judge at Swindon Crown Court decided not to jail him.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, said Pople’s parents had separated and his mother had former a relationship with Keith Murgatroyd.

On Tuesday May 19 last year he said the couple went to the home Pople shares with his father.

He said she cooked some dinner while Mr Murgatroyd walked the family dog which was wet when he returned.

“The dog jumped up leaving wet marks on the sofa to which Mr Pople took exception: it appears he had been drinking,” he said.

“It was then that the sudden outburst took place. Mr Murgatroyd says the defendant approached him and punched him in the face a number of times, he said about 20.”

He said he punched him to the floor and continued the attack pinning him down producing a piece of string which he held across his head.

Mr Meeke said that the victim feared he was going to use it to strangle him but stopped when his mother shouted ‘That’s enough, stop it’.

Mr Murgatroyd was taken to accident and emergency at Trowbridge hospital where he was treated for two black eyes which were bloodshot and cuts and bruises.

Pople pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm.

Jason Taylor, defending, told the court that his client had been trying to deal with his problems through drink.

He said the offence was out of character for Pople who had been in the same job for more than 33 years and had no previous convictions.

Passing sentence Recorder Richard Smith QC said “This was an episode in your life that was completely out of character. Your life had lost its shape.”

He said it was unacceptable for him to repeatedly punch a man saying ‘You now accept it was totally inappropriate’.

The judge said “It is these things that save you from consideration of immediate imprisonment. You are a man with too much to lose and a custodial sentence would outweigh the gravity of the incident.”

He imposed a one year community order with 12 months’ supervision and alcohol treatment and pay £200 costs.

“I am confident in my mind that will return you to society as the thoroughly good man you have been hitherto,” he said.