Barking teen acquitted after bottling man in face at Romford Greyhound Stadium
The attack was at the Romford Greyhound Stadium. Picture: Heidi Birch/iWitness - Credit: citizenside.com
A teenager who fractured a man’s nose with a bottle at a dog track walked free from court yesterday after insisting he acted in self-defence.
Sam Chew, 19, of Westrow Drive, Barking, left Robert Lewis with blood streaming down his face after the incident at the Coral Romford Greyhound Stadium, in London Road, Romford.
He told jurors Mr Lewis was the aggressor and had insulted some of his friends and grabbed a bottle, forcing him to defend himself and a 17-year-old girl.
Mr Lewis admitted in court he raised his voice and became aggressive during the row.
“One of the girls came up to me and called me a dickhead. She was just shouting at me,” he said.
“When they came across to me calling me names, yes, I did raise my voice and get aggressive.”
Mr Chew breathed a sigh of relief as he was cleared by a jury at the Old Bailey after four hours’ deliberation, following the end of a two-day trial.
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He had struck Mr Lewis on the bridge of his nose with the bottle on October 5 last year, the court heard
He was arrested at the scene but told police immediately that he acted in self-defence because Mr Lewis had picked up a bottle.
He also suggested Mr Lewis had called his teenage friends “slags”.
Mr Chew denied wounding with intent and unlawful wounding. He was acquitted on both counts.
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