A MAN confessed to beating his girlfriend, his sister and his best friend and girlfriend after an all-day drinking session on new year’s eve.
Harrison McCarthy, had been drinking since 1pm when he saw red late in the evening at his home in West Street, Portchester, and attacked his best mate Thomas Hoar.
Fareham magistrates’ court heard how the 21-year-old had drunk a bottle of vodka, several shots of Jagermeister and 15 bottles of Fosters lager.
It is unknown what the original argument was over, but it started with McCarthy fronting up to Mr Hoar and challenging him to: ‘Try something.’
During the fight that followed McCarthy, a father-of-one, assaulted Mr Hoar, as well as Laura Martin, Aimee Reed and Rosina McCarthy.
As the four tried in vain to restrain him, the brawl saw them grappling against walls, McCarthy putting his hands around their throats, headbutting and throwing them to the floor whilst enduring foul abuse.
During his police interview, he told officers that he recalled approaching Mr Hoar and the next thing he knew he was waking up in a prison cell.
Erica Foster, defending, said: ‘He accepts he doesn’t remember much of the incident and he’s learnt the hard way that he and drinking do not mix. He has had anger management issues in the past and he has gone back to his old therapist since this.
‘He told me he’s heartbroken. He lost his best friend because of this, but he and his girlfriend are trying to sort things through. He has shown nothing but remorse throughout the whole process.
‘He has told me he given up drinking as result of this.’
Chairwoman Jacqui Boast said: ‘Obviously the amount of alcohol you consumed on that night and the sustained level of the assault over a relatively long amount of time to a number of individuals fairly close to you is significant.
‘But the degree of remorse you have shown, that you have abstained from alcohol and are re-engaging with anger management, has led us to make a decision to deal with this by a community order.’
The mobile phone salesman was given a 12-month supervision order with a three-week curfew, from 9pm to 6am. He was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
No order was made for compensation because of the relationship between McCarthy and his victims.