Woman scarred after Mansfield man's NYE attack

James Roebuck lashed out at the woman after she threw ice cubes over him, in the Stag and Pheasant pub, just after midnight, on January 1.

Prosecutor Karen Hartley said the woman had been provoked when Roebuck refused to buy a new round of drinks to replace the ones he had spilled after blundering into her table.

“As he was being escorted out he began smirking and laughing,” said Ms Hartley.

“She went for him but was pulled back by bouncers and he punched her in the face.”

The attack left the woman with swelling to her face, as well as concussion, and a “fine scar,” which is still visible more than two months later.

The court heard the victim was left feeling “unnerved” by the attack and she cancelled a planned celebration in York for her 21st birthday because she “could no longer face going out.”

Morgan Hogarth, mitigating, said Roebuck was autistic, and a school friend who had been out with him on the night described him as “amicable” and “fairly jolly after a few drinks.”

Roebuck, 24, of Hallam Close, Mansfield, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, when he appeared at Mansfield Magistrates Court, on Wednesday.

District judge Jonathan Taaffe said: “While I do accept the difficulties that Mr Roebuck has, it’s my judgment that the primary cause of this incident was drink.

“This is a typical example of a young lady going out to celebrate New Year, and being met with possible life-changing injuries as a result of the fact you have had too much to drink.

“It is only your previous good character, and the fact I have seen an extensive report from the mental health services, that persuades me to suspend the sentence.”

He gave Roebuck 26 weeks in prison, which will be suspended for 12 weeks.

He must abide by a 16 week curfew, from 7pm to 6am, and pay costs of £85, compensation of £1,000 and a government surcharge of £115.