Littleport Councillor Suffers A Split Lip After Investigating A Disturbance In The Street
COUNCILLOR Andy Wright was assaulted in the street and suffered a split lip after he got involved in a row between a drunken man and his pregnant ex-partner in Littleport. Cllr Wright – who leads the independents on East Cambridgeshire District – had gone
COUNCILLOR Andy Wright was assaulted in the street and suffered a split lip after he got involved in a row between a drunken man and his pregnant ex-partner in Littleport.
Cllr Wright - who leads the independents on East Cambridgeshire District - had gone out to investigate a disturbance near his flat when he was hit in the mouth by drunken Mark Garrod.
This is the second time that a Littleport councillor has tried to prevent public order problems in the village - two years ago Cllr Fred Brown, who is now leader of the party, was cleared of assaulting a teenager who had threatened him and spat at his wife.
At Ely courthouse on Thursday, solicitor Adam Haselhurst said Garrod felt that Cllr Wright and others had "poked their noses in where it was not wanted".
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But a statement from Cllr Wright was read out to city magistrates, saying: "He ran up to me and smacked me in the mouth. I did not provoke him; it was totally out of the blue."
Thirty-six-year-old Garrod, of Hawthorn Close, Littleport, admitted assaulting Cllr Wright on February 13. He was ordered to pay his victim �50 compensation, and was given a three-month curfew order.
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The incident happened around 6pm, when Cllr Wright heard a disturbance in the street and went outside to investigate, said prosecutor Laura Mardell.
Cllr Wright recognised Garrod and another man, and suggested the other man went home.
"The defendant ran towards him and punched him in the face. He jabbed him with his right hand, causing his top lip to split open and bleed," she said. "The victim went to the local surgery to have it checked."
Garrod was drunk when he argued with his former partner, and other people got involved, including Cllr Wright, said solicitor Mr Haselhurst.
"He is no longer in a relationship with the person he was arguing with," he added. "They had already split up, they were arguing because she had not allowed him to see his children."
Garrod suffers from depression and has a problem controlling his anger, added Mr Haselhurst.
