Couple kicked and punched victim in drunk savage High Street attack

A couple who carried out a savage attack on Lincoln High Street have both been jailed at the city’s Crown Court.

William Long and Charlotte Barnard kicked and punched Kirsten Stubbs, continuing their attack when their victim lay helpless on the ground and then went on to attack a passerby who tried to intervene.

Phil Howes, prosecuting, said Ms Stubbs was walking down the High Street at 5.30am after a night out with her boyfriend when she was approached by Long and Barnard near to the Stonebow.

“Long spat at Kirsten Stubbs’ partner then Barnard pushed Ms Stubbs against a shop front.

“Ms Stubbs was thrown to the floor. The male defendant then stamped on her head.

“A member of the public got involved to try to split them up and she was also attacked.”

During the incident that followed Ms Stubbs received further punches before police arrived at the scene.

Ms Stubbs suffered bruising to her nose, elbow, hip, knee and rib cage. She also suffered scratches to her left eye.

Later when Long and Barnard were interviewed by police both admitted they were “very drunk” when the incident happened. Barnard said she reacted having been “touched up” in a bar earlier in the evening.

The court heard that neither of the defendants had any previous convictions.

Long, 26, and Barnard, 22, of Riverton View, Ermine West, Lincoln, each admitted a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two charges of threatening behaviour as a result of the incident on June 12 this year.

Long was jailed for 10 months and Barnard for nine months.

Recorder Paul Mann QC, passing sentence, described what happened as “a ferocious and unremitting attack”.

He told them: “This was an atrocious incident. You just carried on showing no mercy. The stamps on Kirsty Stubbs were nasty and vicious.”

Leanne Summers, in mitigation, told the court that both the defendants struggled with mental health issues.

“They both are ashamed at their behaviour. They were heavily in drink that night. They struggle to understand their actions.”