3:20pm Monday 22nd March 2010
By Wendy Barlow
A POPULAR Oswaldtwistle man now lives in fear after a vicious and unprovoked bottle attack on him by a 'dangerous' thug, a court heard.
Disabled Stephen Pilkington, who is 42, but is said by his mother to have the mind of a young child, was set upon by Damion Hastie and knocked unconscious as he walked past a takeaway in Union Road.
Hastie, who had been given a suspended prison term just five days before for two assaults, left his victim scared to go out, nervous of strangers and unable to sleep. Mr Pilkington had previously been picked on because of his vulnerability, Burnley Crown Court heard.
Hastie, of Shallow Valley Court, Accrington, admitted wounding , last June 7 and was sent to jail for a total of three years. He had nine previous convictions.
Judge Beverley Lunt slammed his actions as cowardly and told the defendant he had affected Mr Pilkington's life.
She said :"He's never going to be independent but at least he could walk down the road and have a happy little walk. He's not doing that anymore. He now lives in fear."
"There is no doubt in my mind you are a dangerous offender."
Sara Dodd, prosecuting, said Mr Pilkington, who was unable to live independently and was almost blind in one eye, was well known and well liked in Oswaldtwistle. He had been a regular in local pubs and had often been seen walking up and down the main street.
That was what he was doing, just before 8pm, on the night he was attacked. As he approached the takeaway, the defendant went towards him and hit him on the back of the head with a bottle.
Miss Dodd said he was knocked to the ground, his glasses fell off and passers-by went to his aid.
A neighbour took him back to his mother's and he was taken to hospital for treatment to a gash to the head.
The victim suffered a nasty wound, a sore jaw and grazes.
Martin Hackett, for Hastie, said the offence was disgraceful. He had been in drink and taken drugs but it was no excuse, Mr Hacket said
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