by crazyhorse » Tue Dec 30, 2008 5:52 pm
Funnily enough after last night i am less concerned for him.
He has been charged with ABH; an offence that can be tried in a Magistrates or Crown Court and Affray which is also an either way offence.
ABH is serious, but not anywhere near as serious as a Section 20 GBH for which he was originally arrested. Affray is a public order offence which in laymans terms says he has been acting in a violent manner and that a bystander present would have felt concerned for their own personal safety.
The CPS have charging standards which say that a charge of ABH can be reduced to common assault when you get to court.
Stevie will appear at Magistrates first and they will decide if they can deal or if it has to go to crown court. A magistrates could send him to gaol for six months maximum, but a Crown court five years. Any sentence for Affray will be served concurrently (alongside that of the more serious assault charge).
Should Stevie accept that he has done wrong (if he has), go guilty at the first opportunity and show remorse I cant see that he will be sent to prison; unless an example is made of him which I do not think would be in the public interest. Personally I think that the matter will be dealt with by the magistrates and he will receive a fine, and some sort of community service order.
Also there is every chance that the CPS will offer his brief a deal on the day along the lines of admit an assault and they wil drop the Affray... It happens every day. I am not as worried as I was last night and can see this being sorted in a month or two.