A MAN who headbutted a former county councillor he thought was kicking his dog has avoided prison.

Graham Wright attacked Iain Brown in a field in Sparsholt and left him with a swollen lip and needing dental work, Oxford Crown Court heard yesterday.

The 55-year-old, of Blacklands in the village near Wantage, was handed a four-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, told to do 200 hours of unpaid work, pay £1,000 compensation, £2,000 costs and an £80 victims’ surcharge.

Conservative Mr Brown, 50, who stepped down as an Oxfordshire County Council member for Hanneys and Hendred last year, had lifted his terrier off the ground as Wright’s Jack Russell was jumping up at him in the January incident.

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But Wright thought Mr Brown was kicking his dog and climbed over a gate, rushed over and attacked him, the court heard. Wright was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Paul Wakerley, defending Wright, said the attack was “wholly out of character”.

Recorder Simon Blackford, sentencing, said to Wright: “It goes without saying people are entitled to take their dog for a walk without this sort of aggression.

“This was a considerable loss of temper that resulted in a criminal offence.”

Speaking after the hearing, sheet metal worker Mr Brown said the sentence was just. He also said he would make a donation to Victim Support.

 

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