A MAN was ambushed and beaten up at a funeral wake because he had allegedly urinated in a friend’s drink on an earlier occasion, a court was told on Monday (18th July).

One of the two men who attacked Joshua Bamford and broke his jaw was the son of the woman whose funeral was being held that day, Gloucester crown court heard.

In the dock were Connor Baker, 22, of Buttington Road, Sedbury, and Fabian Westbrook, 20, of Cinderhill street, Monmouth.

They both admitted unlawfully wounding Mr Bamford at the British Legion club in Sedbury on 3rd December last year.

Recorder Jane Rowley sentenced them both to 16 months imprisonment suspended for two years. She ordered them each to do 180 hours of unpaid work and to attend ten day rehabilitation programmes. They were each ordered to pay £150 compensation to Mr Bamford and prosecution costs of £100.

Prosecutor Julian Kesner said that some weeks before the attack, Westbrook, Baker and Mr Bamford were socialising together at an address in Sedbury.

“While Westbrook was out of the room, Mr Bamford was egged on by others to urinate in his bottle of Oasis drink,” Mr Kesner said.

"Joshua Bamford went to the bathroom taking Mr Westbrook’s drink with him. When he returned it appeared he had urinated in it.”

Mr Kesner continued: "In fact, he says, he did not do that - but to everyone else in the room it appeared he had.

"Mr Westbrook promptly finished his drink and there the matter ended. We then move on to 3rd December, a day Mr Baker will never forget because it was his mother’s funeral.

"After the funeral there was a gathering at the British Legion. Baker was there, of course, as was Mr Westbrook.  Also there were other friends who had been present on the night of the drink being spiked.

"Mr Westbrook was not happy about that and an arrangement was made to invite Mr Bamford over. He went there thinking he was going as a friend, not knowing that he was going to be ambushed.”

"Immediately on getting there he was assaulted. He was punched first by Baker, hard punches which knocked him to the ground on several occasions. Mr Westbrook joined in. Both men accept that they punched and kicked Mr Bamford while he was on the ground.

"Once the assault was over Mr Bamford left. He didn’t realise how badly he was injured. Eventually he went to hospital where it was found he had a displaced fracture of the left angle of the mandible.

"He was operated on and the fracture was fixed but he still has residual issues. He says he now speaks with a lisp so doesn’t like to talk and the shape of his face has changed. His lip is still numb and he has problems eating food such as steak.

"He is scared to go back to the Sedbury area  and on one occasion when he did go back he felt nervous and was shaking. He is suffering from anxiety as a result of the attack."

Richard Twomlow, for Baker, said: "He is shocked by his behaviour. His mother had recently died. She had gone into hospital for cancer treatment expecting to come back out but never did. He now lives on his own apart from a brother who is at university and he is employed at Chepstow Plant where he is doing very well and is highly thought of.

"Clearly this was a day when emotions were running extremely high. He had been drinking and there was an element of cannabis taking.

"It was a bizarre and unusual day, a unique set of circumstances."

For Westbrook, Richard Tucker said he is about to become a father, his partner is eight months pregnant.

Westbrook does not work and has been diagnosed with mental health problems for which he receives treatment. He and his partner live on benefits of £114 a week.

"He is extremely remorseful for the level of injury he has inflicted," said Mr Tucker. "He has referred himself to the Gwent drug and alcohol service for specialist counselling.

Recorder Rowley told the men "I accept this all started as a foolish schoolboy prank but led to Mr Bamford being ambushed and beaten up by you both."

She said prison was called for but she just felt able to suspend the sentence after considering the circumstances.