By Phil Coleman

Last updated at 12:22, Wednesday, 18 July 2012

A young man whose criminal record was described in court as “unenviable” has been given a suspended jail sentence for attacking another man with a bottle.

Shane Walker, who six years ago was convicted of an arson offence which partly destroyed Abbeytown’s Holme Cultram Abbey, was back in court after he admitted wounding a young man during a confrontation.

Walker, of Orchard Street, Wigton, denied using a bottle in the attack but a judge ruled that he did use one after hearing evidence.

David Birrel, for Walker, said that despite his client having 23 criminal convictions, he had since the birth of his first child in March this year shown greater maturity.

He had also began working with his father and recently had the good sense to report a threat made to his girlfriend to the Probation Service, rather than deal with it himself.

Becoming a father had been a "wake up call" for the defendant and a Probation Service report had spoken of his positive parenting skills.

Passing sentence at Carlisle Crown Court, Judge Peter Hughes QC noted that there had been significant provocation from the victim and that Walker had taken a significant amount of drink.

The judge imposed a 12 month jail term, suspended for two years.

He also ordered that Walker should do 150 hours unpaid work in the community, and be supervised by the Probation Service for a year.

The judge warned that if he returns to court for any further offences he will be “for the high jump”.

First published at 11:28, Wednesday, 18 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk