'˜Barney has pulled through - he's the miracle boy'

Barney Butwell suffered a serious head injury and Alicia Savage, 21, of Clarendon Street, Landport, has now admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm.

She pleaded guilty to GBH at Portsmouth Crown Court yesterday and was warned she could be facing jail.

Barney was left fighting for his life and spent six weeks in an induced coma after falling downstairs in the incident in Timpson Road, Fratton.

Speaking after the case, Barney’s father Barry, 56, said: ‘I just wanted her to tell the truth and she has done.

‘As far as I’m concerned it’s over and it’s out of my hands. She’s admitted her crime and she’s going to pay the penalty.

‘Hopefully those two never see each other again. I don’t wish her any harm.’

Barney was admitted to the intensive neurological unit at Southampton General Hospital after the incident before being moved to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham in June.

He is still undergoing physiotherapy and his family fear it may be many years before he is fit enough to work.

Barry, of Ophir Road, North End, told The News: ‘He was dead in my eyes when I first went to the hospital.

‘He’s pulled through – he’s the miracle boy, that’s what they call him.’

Surgeons had to drain fluid from Barney’s brain twice, and he still faces the possibility of medics needing to operate to install a shunt.

Barney, of Milton, left QA Hospital in time for his birthday in August. He now has a girlfriend and is hoping to move on with his life as best he can, his dad said.

Barry praised neurosurgeon Ryan Waters at SGH. The family have named a pet spaniel Mr Waters in his honour.

‘We saw people come and go and people dying but my son didn’t – I’m a lucky man,’ said Barry.