Sentence halved as offender pays £750
By Stephen Adams
Last Updated: 1:14am GMT 13/03/2008
A man who broke an elderly woman's hip when he pushed her over had his prison sentence halved yesterday after agreeing to get £750 from his bank towards compensation.
Gary Hickton knocked down Shirley Smith, 72, because he thought she was in his way.
When Hickton, 42, appeared at Norwich Crown Court for sentence after admitting wounding, Judge Paul Downes learned that he had received £5,400 in redundancy.
He told Hickton that he would bail him for an hour to get the cash. "I don't want anybody to think I am bargaining with you," the judge said, "but if you can come up with compensation, your sentence will be substantially reduced. I am thinking of 750 [pounds]."
However, Gary Fitzgerald, the chief executive of the campaign group Action on Elder Abuse, criticised the judge. "It's almost like saying you can buy our way out of trouble. If you've got the money, you might not have to deal with the consequences."
Abridged.
SOURCE: thetelegraphUK
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