Hampshire man hit victim with pickaxe handle following Facebook fight

Michael Francis Hughes hit his victim with a pickaxe handle during a street fight outside his home in St Mary’s Road, Bishopstoke.

Prosecution barrister, Page Nyame, told how the two men had been messaging on social media - Facebook - before the attack.

When the victim drove to Hughes’ home, the defendant smashed one of the windows of his Nissan Navara.

A fight then ensued, Miss Nyame added.

Michael Hughes outside Southampton Crown Court.

Hughes’ victim was later taken to A&E with soft tissue swelling.

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court, the 48-year-old of Derby Road, Eastleigh, was charged with affray and the possession of an offensive weapon.

He previously pleaded guilty to the offences which happened on May 19 last year.

Hughes has a number of convictions including two for the possession of a bladed article.

Defending, Jamie Gammon said that the trigger for the incident was that “offensive things” had been posted on his client’s business page suggesting that he was unreliable.

However, Hughes “bitterly regretted” what happened.

Mr Gammon told that his client had a “significant history of offending” that finally came to a stop in 2008.

Since then, he has surrounded himself with protective factors to prevent a relapse into drug use, he added.

The pickaxe handle seized by police.

Mr Gammon said that his client had always maintained he didn’t strike his victim repeatedly with the pickaxe handle.

At sentence Judge Nicholas Rowland said that Hughes had turned his life around and that immediate imprisonment might undo all the good work that has been done over the last 13-years.

He was jailed for 12 months. However, the sentence was suspended for two years.

Hughes has been ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity days.

He must also pay his victim £500 in compensation.