Man sentenced for assault

A MAN accused of a late night attack in the town’s Waterfront area which left a man with a fractured skull has walked free from court after being given a suspended prison sentence.

Michael Hussey, 22, of Middlesex, had denied causing grievous bodily harm with intent to his victim on October 14 last year and was found not guilty by a jury after a trial at Ipswich Crown Court earlier this month.

However he was found guilty of a less serious offence of assault causing him actual bodily harm and was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.

He was also ordered to do 100 hours’ unpaid work in the community and to pay his victim �4,000 compensation.

During the trial the court heard that the victim and a friend had been walking home from Cardinal Park at around 3am when they became aware of a man shouting abuse at them.

The victim heard the sound of something smashing and had then felt an impact to the side of his head and pain.

He was later found to have suffered a fractured skull.