Doncaster man knocked out pal's teeth in drink and drug-fuelled fight

Liam Finnegan and his girlfriend had been staying at a friend's Doncaster home when violence erupted and a window was broken, on January 18, said prosecutor Sue Evans.

Neighbours saw the pair "tussle" in the street while Finnegan punched and kicked the man.

He later told police he had been defending himself and denied using a "multi-tool" during the altercation.

The court heard he has 16 previous convictions for 27 offences, including three counts of battery in 2014, 2016 and 2017, and assaulting an emergency worker in 2017.

His most recent offence was committed in May 2019 when he received a 12 month conditional discharge for stealing a bicycle.

Cheryl Dudley, mitigating, said Finnegan's friend started the fight and Finnegan had since made efforts to rehabilitate himself.

Finnegan, 27, of Victoria Road, Edlington, Doncaster, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Judge Michael Slater said Finnegan's record was "not impressive" but he had not committed violence since 2017 and had served “almost the equivalent of a ten month sentence on remand.”

He said Finnegan did his best to bring the fight to an end peacefully, but "when your friend persisted you punched him, and a neighbour describes you kicking him."

On Wednesday, the judge sentenced him to 12 months, suspended for two years.

Finnegan made the sign of the cross and wept when he heard the sentence.