Attack with nail-studded broom

Press, 12 May 1979, Page 2

Attack with nail-studded broom

Wielding a nail-studded broom handie, a labourer struck another man twice in the face before clubbing him! on the ground, the Magis-I trate’s Court was told! yesterday. As a result, the end of the, stick broke, leaving part of it embedded in the victim’s' face. Thomas Barclay, aged 19, pleaded guilty to a charge of | injuring Peter Mark Maich; on May 6 with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Mr F. G. Paterson, S.M.,| remanded him in custody to May 18 for sentence. People attending a party in Coleridge Street, Sydenham, were leaving when an argument broke out on the footpath, said Sergeant G. C. Jones. The defendant stood in the gate-way wielding the handle which contained 20 nails. He threatened everyone, telling them to “stay away.” Mr Maich slipped past. When he explained that he was trying to break up an argument, the defendant hit him twice in the face and again near the mouth after he had fallen to the ground. Mr Maich had suffered facial injuries, including a split lip and broken tooth. The defendant had tried to hide the weapon in a car when the police arrived, said Sergeant Jones. He had denied any knowledge of the offence.