Thug Martin Edwards beats musician pal with his own Fender guitar
by
Sam Lennon
A man battered a friend with his own guitar after
an evening's drinking suddenly erupted into violence.
Martin Edwards used musician Mark Fairbrass' Fender bass on him
and repeatedly kicked, punched and stamped on him, Canterbury Crown
Court heard.
Edwards, 29, of Central Parade, Herne Bay, was jailed for
four-and-a-half years.
Judge Heather Norton told Edwards (pictured left) him:
"This was a ferocious attack. You subjected him to a sustained
attack. With the guitar you smashed him in the head and face."
Ian Foinette, prosecuting, said the two men were friends
who had both lived in the same block of flats at St George's
Terrace, Herne Bay.
On October 10 2011 - 10 days after Edwards had moved
out - Mr Fairbrass, 43, had invited him to his flat for
an evening's drinking.
The mood suddenly turned sour and Mr Fairbrass swore at Edwards
and told him to to get out and was then suddenly attacked.
Edwards hit him twice, in the head and face, with the guitar and
Mr Fairbrass - who made no attempt to defend himself - ended
up with his head covered in blood. He also had a broken nose and
severe bruising to the head, face and body.
He had swelling around the eye sockets and injuries to his ribs,
right arm and lower back and needed hospital treatment. His head
needed to be stapled and stitched and he was left with a five to
six-inch scar on the head.
Edwards' case was heard
at Canterbury Crown Court
Mr Foinette said: "The defendant repeatedly punched him in the
face, and threw him around the room including against a wall and
table."
The court heard police were called and Edwards admitted
what he had done.
Mr Foinette said while Mr Fairbrass was a guitarist performing
in the evening, he had a job as a chef and had lost £560 in pay
while off sick after the attack.
"This was a ferocious attack. You subjected him to a sustained attack. With the guitar you smashed him in the head and face" – Judge Heather Norton
He was also left
agitated and afraid to go out at night after the experience
and suffered nightmares.
Edwards pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and sentencing
had been adjourned for psychiatric reports.
Matthew Paul, for Edwards, said it was not clear what exactly
had sparked the violence but said: "There is no indication of
premeditation. It was spur-of-the-moment intent.
"They had been drinking partners for months, they were friends
and Mr Edwards does not understand why this happened although they
had both become very drunk. He is now exceedingly apologetic."
Psychiatric reports revealed Edwards had psychological
problems and had twice attempted suicide, once by cutting his
wrists.
His previous convictions consisted of only one common assault
and criminal damage and he was given no more than a conditional
discharge.
Judge Norton told Edwards: "What happened to trigger the assault
will probably never be fully explained.
"Mr Fairbrass cannot remember and neither are you able to put
forward a coherent explanation."
14/12/12
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