A former firefighter from Oswestry has narrowly avoided being sent to prison for a sickening punch which left his victim with a fractured skull.

Tommy Lewis, 33, of Blackbrook Drive, Oswestry was given a 20-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting grievous bodily harm against Daniel Stanton. His co-defendant William Rowbotham, 38, of High Lea Close, Oswestry was given a 12-month sentence suspended for two years, after admitting actual bodily harm against Mr Stanton's partner Joanna Lewis.

His Honour Judge Anthony Lowe, sitting at Shrewsbury Crown Court, called the attack at a family home "unforgivable".

The court heard that Lewis was upset to see his mum in an ambulance after a fight at The George pub in Oswestry on March 30, 2019. He went to Daniel Stanton and Joanne Lewis' home to find out what had happened, and accused them of hurting her. No charges were ever brought over the incident in the pub, which Nicholas Tatlow, mitigating for Lewis, called "unfortunate".

Rowbotham, who Lewis had met in a takeaway, barged into the hallway and grabbed Ms Lewis by the throat, pushing her to the floor. A "sickening crack" was heard after Lewis punched Daniel Stanton in the face knocking his head against a door frame. He lay unconscious for up to five minutes.

David Jackson, prosecuting, said that when Mr Stanton came round, he was confused and couldn't remember what had happened. He was in hospital for nine days with a fractured skull, and off work for 18 months with excruciating headaches and balance issues, and had to surrender his driving licence for a year.

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The court also heard that Joanna Lewis had bruising to her arms, throat and right eye, and a whiplash injury to her neck. She said her family had been left "traumatised" by the attack.

During a police interview, Tommy Lewis admitted going along to the property with his girlfriend. The former retained firefighter-turned self-employed contractor claims Ms Lewis pulled his girlfriend's hair and that he was punched by Daniel Stanton.

Mr Tatlow told the court that Lewis was "greatly distressed" after seeing his mum in an ambulance after suffering an "unpleasant injury" at the pub.

"Seeing his mum in the ambulance hurt obviously greatly distressed the defendant," he said. "He went to order a takeaway and only decided to speak to Ms Lewis and Mr Stanton to find what they had to say. It was extremely unwise for him considering the turmoil and distress.

"He says he didn’t go with the intention on violence. The state he was in was perhaps predictable, he lost his temper and there was a terrible consequence."

The case has taken four years to reach sentencing, first because of Covid-driven delays to the charges, then because Lewis denied the offence before pleading guilty in January 2022.

Mr Tatlow called the punch a "single blow", and said the incident was an "isolated aberration".

William Rowbotham was tracked down after Daniel Stanton recognised him in Oswestry town centre and police carried out checks on his car. Rowbotham initially claimed he was at a boxing event when the attack happened, and said he would "never hit a woman".

His barrister Robert Edwards told the court that a custodial sentence would have a "severe effect" on his construction vehicle hire business and groundwork crew.

"His previous convictions are the difference between him and his co-accused," Mr Edwards said.

"They were committed against a background of him drinking and frankly causing trouble. He recognises that alcohol consumption was a problem. He has used the time since the offending to reduce his alcohol consumption to nil.

"He should not have got himself involved in this and regrets his actions."

His Honour Judge Anthony Lowe told the pair: "What you did in March 2019 was unforgivable. You go around to somebody’s home and each inflict violence upon the householders in their own home.

"So far as you are concerned Mr Lewis while you had reason to go, you had no justification.

"Mr Rowbotham, you had no reason let alone any justification. Although you are charged with the lesser offence one wonders had you not barged into the hallway, which was the commencement of the violence, whether the rest would have happened."

Judge Lowe said it was a "borderline decision" to suspend Lewis' sentence, and he also ordered him to pay £7,500 in compensation. Rowbotham must pay his victim £1,500.

Both defendants must pay £1,200 in court costs, while Lewis was given a five-year restraining order.