LUKE LAL

HAIRDRESSER AVOIDS JAIL AFTER INJURING BOYFRIEND AND BREACHING RESTRAINING ORDER

A hairdresser named Luke Lal, aged 31, who had been remanded in custody, was sentenced after a series of violent and abusive acts.

The court was told that in January 2020, Lal was at the victim's home when a 'heated verbal argument' escalated, resulting in Lal punching and strangling his partner.

Prosecutor Maninder Chagger reported that Lal also grabbed the victim's penis and yanked it repeatedly, causing a small laceration.

Additionally, Lal threatened the victim with a knife in the kitchen, although he was disarmed and the weapon was discarded out of the window.

The assault led to the victim being taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment.

Lal had previously been sentenced to 12 months suspended for 18 months and was ordered to perform 150 hours of unpaid work.

However, he was re-arrested after police received a tip-off about a potential fight outside a bar in Hurst Street on August 3.

During court proceedings, Lal admitted to punching his boyfriend and causing injuries, though his defense claimed the assault was more of a slap, and he suffered from alcohol problems.

Lal was also found to have breached a restraining order banning contact with the victim, but the victim later discharged the order.

The court sentenced him to eight months suspended for 20 months, increased his previous suspended sentence by six months, and ordered him to pay £445 in costs.