Preston thug who stabbed reveller in head and fractured his skull avoids jail due to delay in his case

Jack Sanderson, 27, of Portland Street, Preston, avoided an immediate jail term because Judge Simon Medland QC had to take the delayand his guilty plea into account.

Sanderson, who has violence and drink related offences on his record, was barred from Pop World on Church Street, Preston, for fighting during the World Cup, but had tried to get into the club's entrance on February 9 last year.

Preston Crown Court heard at around 2.35am victim Connor Lowe, who had been drinking with friends in the venue, encountered Sanderson as he exited, and they got into a row in which he pushed Sanderson backwards out of the entrance.

Moments later, Sanderson swung a steak knife at him as they fought near to St John's Minster, cutting his head.

He was left dizzy and bleeding heavily.

Prosecuting, David Bentley witnesses had seen him emerge from the alleyway beside Hogarth's shouting "He's just stabbed me, he's got a knife".

A police officer had to use Pava spray on Sanderson and his friend after they failed to get on the ground.

Mr Lowe was taken to hospital and had the wound glued, but had to return two days later after collapsing at home, and a CT scan showed a bleed and fracture.

Sanderson wasn't sent a charge until January 24 this year.

As the details were revealed, Judge Simon Medland QC said: " You have to bear in mind the delay, therefore the sentence is much less serious than it might have been had the prosecution got its act together.

" It is inexcusable, it really is."

Sanderson admitted wounding and possessing a bladed article.

Sentencing him two years, suspended for two years, with a curfew, the judge added: "If this case had proceeded in an efficient and timely way I would today have sent you straight to prison.

"It was not. There was a delay of nearly one year before the prosecution and police got their act together.

"That is unexplained and it is inexcusable in a straight forward case."

He ordered him to pay £800 compensation to Mr Lowe.

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