Justice for GBH victim

Sentenced to 16 months imprisonment after performing a vicious assault on a retired aircraft engineer.

Brett Griffith was arrested for the offence of Grievous Bodily Harm last May. At the police station he made an immediate guilty plea for the attack against Martin Muldorey. The 31 year-old admitted that whilst at a pub in Hamble near Southampton, he accidentally knocked into Mr Muldorey’s wife who had recently sustained an injury to her arm. As a result of this, Mr Muldorey confronted him. Brett claims that it was a particular remark, with reference to his father, which is a sensitive issue with the defendant that triggered his violent reaction.

Martin Muldorey received an extreme blow to his face, in which he suffered from a displaced cheekbone, a serious injury that required surgery. He described it as “an unbelievable pain” and is still recovering. It remains uncertain whether he will suffer any permanent damage, but it is possible that Mr Muldorey’s cheek could remain paralysed to some degree.

Judge Harrow determined the sentence at Bournemouth Crown Court, of which he will only serve half before being released on licence. Considerations were made with respect to the fact that Mr Griffith did not use a weapon of any sort when making his attack. He only made a single blow to Mr Muldorey and with no previous convictions of this kind, he was considered a to have a low risk of re-offending. Defence Barrister, Jonathon Simpson
suggested that a suspended sentence would be an adequate option, despite the guideline being an 18 month custodial sentence.

Judge Harrow made the final decision of a 16 month custodial sentence and claimed that “a suspended sentence was definitely not appropriate in these circumstances.”