NORTHUMBERLAND MAN FACES JAIL AFTER HITTING YOUNG CHILD IN THE FACE
Nicholas Bartlett left the victim with bruising to his eye and redness and swelling to his cheek after the assault.Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard that the 29-year-old was arrested after his violent outburst was spotted by a witness, who rang the police.
Bartlett, of Allenfield, in Hexham, was in the dock this week to plead guilty to assault by beating.
Prosecutor Stephen Davies said the offence happened in the Northumberland town on August 22 this year.
Mr Davies continued: "[The witness] describes seeing the defendant hit [the victim] using an open left hand to the right side of the face, just below the eye.
[The witness] describes that it was with full force.
She immediately rang the police." The court heard that Bartlett was arrested and, during interview, accepted he'd struck the youngster but described it as "more of a push".
However, officers had noted the injuries to the child, Mr Davies said.
Lewis Pearson, defending, said Bartlett still claimed it was not a "full-force" strike but had pleaded guilty and was remorseful.
Mr Pearson added: "He accepts responsibility for the inappropriate act." Adjourning the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report, chairing magistrates, Dr Vivien Hollyoak, said: "The assault was against a very vulnerable victim.
We believe the offence has a sentencing range from a low-level community order to 16 weeks in custody." "We're not going to decide that now, we need further information on the background of the case and on your background." Bartlett was released on conditional bail to next appear back at the same court on October 16.
