Published at 11:12, Thursday, 05 July 2012

A DRUNKEN supermarket worker who knocked a man unconscious and thumped two other people in a late-night argument at a taxi rank has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Andrew Scott Callander – described as normally being a responsible, hard-working man who seldom goes out on the town – assaulted the three strangers after getting into an altercation with them after he had been out drinking following an engagement party.

The trouble started after the 25-year-old father-of-two became aggressive towards Daniel Hughes in the taxi queue in Duke Street, Whitehaven, in the early hours of April 15, prosecutor Alan Lovett told a judge at Carlisle Crown Court.

Jordan Hamill went over to calm things down. But Callander simply punched him in the face.

Then, Mr Hughes’ friend, Eilish Stamper, grabbed hold of Callander in an attempt to prevent any further violence, but he just shoved her out of the way with a blow to her chest, Mr Lovett said.

Callander then moved on to Mr Hughes, pinning him against a window and repeatedly punching him.

Police officers who arrived at the scene saw him holding Mr Hughes at arm’s length, punching him at least three times.

Mr Hughes was not retaliating and his head was lolled forward, with his eyes closed.

“He was clearly unconscious and he was only standing up because Mr Callander was holding him there against the window,” Mr Lovett said.

Police threw Callander to the ground and he was arrested and handcuffed after a struggle.

Callander, of Cumberland Road, Whitehaven, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm to both Mr Hamill and Mr Hughes.

He also admitted a charge of common assault against Ms Stamper, as well as one of obstructing a police officer.

The court heard that Callander had drunk up to 13 pints of lager.

He was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, ordered to do 200 hours’ unpaid community work and put under a curfew to keep him indoors at home from 10pm to 6am every night for the next four months.

He was also made to pay £250 each in compensation to Mr Hamill and Mr Hughes, and £125 to Ms Stamper.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk