A man who clobbered his neighbour over the head with a curtain pole has been jailed. Ben Gingell had exchanged blows with the complainant during an altercation in the street.
Bristol Crown Court heard that, after they were separated, Gingell collected the pole from his camper van and bashed his neighbour on the head from behind. The victim was left needing 10 staples for an ugly head wound which has caused a permanent scar.
Gingell, 29, of Paintworks in Brislington, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm in February. The Recorder of Bristol His Honour Judge Peter Blair KC jailed him for 34 weeks.
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The judge told Gingell: "You accept your conduct was excessive and went beyond reasonable force. You have written a letter to (the complainant) apologising for the incident and you sincerely hope and pray that this matter can be left in the past."
Charlotte Evans, prosecuting, told the court: "The defendant went to his van. He pulled out a curtain pole and he struck the complainant over the crown of his head with all of his force.
"His basis of plea has been accepted. He states he was acting in self-defence up until the strike, then acted in excessive self-defence."
Mandla Ndlovu, defending, said the incident involved an impulsive, short-lived assault. He said his client was tackling substance abuse "head-on" in prison and Gingell was being medicated for depression and anxiety. Gingell had also enrolled on a thinking skills course, the court heard.
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