Culdrose engineer in court over accidental punch
2:38pm Monday 10th September 2012 in News
A CULDROSE-based air engineer pleaded guilty to unlawful and malicious wounding after a row broke out over an accidental punch.
Mark McLachlan, 26, admitted the charge at a hearing at Truro Crown Court last Friday.
Commenting that there had been a good deal of provocation, Recorder Nicolas Gerasimidis concluded that it would be wrong to impose on a 26-year-old Serviceman with an unblemished record, an immediate prison sentence which would end his Royal Navy career.
McLachlan was given a community order involving 200 hours of unpaid work, payment of £1,000 compensation to Richard Davis and £600 prosecution costs.
Prosecutor Elaine Hobson said that in the early hours of October 20 last Mr Davis was accidentally struck by one of the defendant's friends who missed the punchball.
Outside there was a fracas in which McLachlan was punched several times and responded by taking a running kick at his victim.
Defence advocate Robin Smith pointed out that a taxi driver had noted that Mr Davis was argumentative, trying to encourage a fight just as McLachlan, who appeared not to want to be involved, was about to board the vehicle.
Lt Andrew Bates, McLachlan's supervising officer, said he was intelligent, hardworking and always courteous. He was in line for promotion and if sent to custody it would be a sad loss to the Royal Navy.
